Ukraine launched a large overnight attack on the Russian Black Sea port city of Novorossiysk, knocking two major grain terminals out of operation and raising concerns about possible disruptions to global wheat supplies. The attack involved drones, missiles and unmanned boats, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
Novorossiysk is an important shipping point for Russia, the world’s largest wheat exporter. Much of the country’s wheat exports travel through Black Sea ports, including Novorossiysk. Russian industry sources said two major grain terminals were put out of action during the attack. Chicago wheat futures rose around 3% Wednesday as reports of the damage spread and markets reacted to the possibility of supply problems.
Russia’s main grain lobby group had already warned last month that continued Ukrainian attacks could eventually shut down Russian grain exports through the Black Sea. The group said that could raise prices and create food supply problems in parts of Africa and the Middle East.
The attack also struck the Novorossiysk naval base, Zelenskiy said on Telegram. Russia moved some vessels from its Black Sea Fleet to Novorossiysk after repeated Ukrainian attacks in Crimea. Moscow seized and annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.
Veniamin Kondratyev, governor of Russia’s Krasnodar region, described the overnight assault as a “massive” wave of attacks. At least two people were killed, including an 8-year-old child, he said.
Damage was reported beyond the port itself. Novorossiysk Mayor Andrei Kravchenko said the city’s water supply was suspended and officials declared an emergency. Four unspecified businesses, more than two dozen residential buildings and some educational facilities were damaged. Unverified social media video showed flames and a large column of smoke rising from an area of the city.
The attack comes as grain shipments from Ukraine are also facing major problems. Ukraine is another major grain exporter, but Russian attacks on ships in the Black Sea have sharply reduced its shipments. Ukraine’s agriculture ministry said grain shipments dropped 76% during the first two weeks of August compared with the same period last year.
Novorossiysk is also used for oil exports. The Caspian Pipeline Consortium, or CPC, operates infrastructure there that carries Kazakh oil to international markets. U.S. oil companies Chevron and Exxon Mobil partly own the consortium.
The Financial Times reported Wednesday that Ukraine had agreed not to target CPC infrastructure and certain non-Russian vessels following a request from U.S. Vice President JD Vance in late July. Under the reported agreement, those vessels would be protected as long as they were not under Ukrainian sanctions or transporting Russian oil or other cargo. Ukraine’s presidency did not respond to a request for comment. There was no indication the CPC or tankers collecting its oil were hit overnight.
Fighting continued elsewhere. Russian-installed officials said more than three dozen drones were shot down over Sevastopol in Crimea. In Ukraine, a Russian attack caused a fire at a shopping mall in Zaporizhzhia, according to regional Governor Ivan Fedorov. Another Russian strike damaged infrastructure in Odesa, Ukraine’s largest seaport, though officials did not provide details about the damage.
Zelenskiy said Tuesday that Ukraine had given U.S. negotiators proposals for ending the war. Ukraine has repeatedly called for a ceasefire, while Russia says a settlement must include Ukraine fully giving up four regions claimed by Moscow and addressing what Russia calls the conflict’s “root causes.”
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