Novorossiysk port disruptions follow Ukrainian Black Sea strikes

Ukrainian drone attacks targeting Russian maritime infrastructure in the Black Sea are causing significant disruptions to oil and grain exports. The strikes have specifically impacted Novorossiysk, Russia’s largest Black Sea port and a critical hub for global trade, which handles approximately one-third of Russia’s grain exports.

According to Andrey Sisov of the SovEcon agricultural research agency, major facilities including a grain terminal and a flour mill in Novorossiysk ceased operations on August 12. This followed the shutdown of the KSK deep-water grain terminal and the earlier suspension of activities at the Taman terminal in late July. With shallow ports in the Sea of Azov already paralyzed, experts suggest that nearly all Russian grain exports through the Azov-Black Sea basin are currently blocked, with only the smaller Tuapse terminal remaining operational.

While the impact on oil exports has been less absolute than that on grain, the attacks have challenged Moscow’s naval dominance in the region. Continued strikes could lead to severe consequences for Russia’s export capacity and national budget, as logistical routes can only be partially reorganized.