(NOVOROSSIYSK, RUSSIA) – Two of Russia’s largest grain terminals in the southern port of Novorossiysk have suspended operations following a night attack by Ukrainian drones.
Reuters reported the suspension citing four industry sources.
Russia is the world’s largest wheat exporter. Most of that export flows through its Black Sea ports, including Novorossiysk.
The main Russian lobby group for grain companies warned last month that Ukrainian drone attacks could halt grain exports through the Black Sea in the near future.
One industry source, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter, said the Novorossiysk Grain Terminal had suspended work. The terminal has an annual export capacity of 8.5 million tonnes. Damage is currently being assessed.
A spokesperson for the Demetra holding, which owns the terminal, said the facility had suffered damage. The spokesperson did not give details on the nature of the damage and declined further comment.
The Novorossiysk Bread Products Plant is another major grain terminal in the port with an annual export capacity of 7.1 million tonnes. Three industry sources told Reuters that the terminal was also damaged and had stopped work.
Its main owner said the terminal was damaged and that no one was hurt during the attack.
Besides grain terminals, Novorossiysk also hosts oil export infrastructure. That includes facilities for the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, which is partly owned by American oil giants Chevron and ExxonMobil. The consortium transports Kazakh oil to world markets.
The Financial Times reported that Ukraine had stopped strikes on tankers serving the Caspian Pipeline Consortium after an appeal from US Vice President JD Vance.
There are no signs that the consortium or tankers collecting oil from the pipeline were hit during the night attacks.
Ukrainian drone attacks earlier prompted a temporary ban on vessel movement in the port of Novorossiysk between midnight and 5am.