Explosions and sounds of the shooting were heard in the harbor area of Novorossiysk (Krasnodar Region, Russian Federation) on Friday morning, August 4. The Defense Ministry of the aggressor country said that the cause was "a drone attack by the AFU" on the naval base and all targets were "destroyed".

Russian Telegram channels published footage and much later it was confirmed that one of the landing ships capsized in the harbor as a result of the attack. Some independent media of the aggressor country specified that locals complained about a "bright flash" near the oil terminal of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, which had imposed a ban on ship traffic (to view photos and video, scroll to the end of the news).

Judging by reports in the aggressor country's channels, it was loud in Novorossiysk from five o'clock Friday morning. There, machine-gun bursts were heard from the harbor area and the village of Myskhako, followed by explosions on the water.

Propagandists claimed that this was how the boats were firing at unknown aquatic drones. As a result, one drone burst into flames, followed by a large explosion.

Local authorities did not comment on the incident. However, Russians speculated that there was a naval battle with surface drones in the waters of Novorossiysk, southeast of anchorage 471 before the passage to the Kerch Strait.

"Enemy" objects, according to eyewitnesses, were destroyed and now they are "blocking the approaches to the Crimean bridge with booms."

Kremlin mouthpieces finally responded only an hour later. They said on Telegram that Novorossiysk's emergency services were notified of explosions in the water area and near the village of Myskhako and that data was "instantly" passed to the special services.

According to ASTRA (positioned as a publication of independent Russian journalists censored or persecuted in the Russian Federation. - Ed.), the first reports of explosions in Novorossiysk appeared as early as around 1 a.m.. Residents claimed that they "saw a bright flash over the sea and explosions where the CPC is."

The Caspian Pipeline Consortium is a large international oil pipeline system built to deliver oil from western Kazakhstan (mainly from the Tengiz, Karachaganak and Kashagan fields) to terminals on the Black Sea near the port of Novorossiysk. The CPC marine terminal is described by the Russian media as the most important in the transportation artery and is located in Yuzhnaya Ozereyevka near Novorossiysk.

"Closer to morning, residents reported more explosions and sounds of shooting over the sea. They said there was shooting in Myskhako, Novorossiysk, explosions on the water and probably a sea drone attack," the publication specified, quoting eyewitnesses.

Closer to 07:00, the Russian Defense Ministry announced the cause of the loud morning in Novorossiysk. According to the ministry's claims, "the AFU attempted to attack the city's naval base with two unmanned surface vehicles."

"They were destroyed by fire from the regular weapons of Russian ships guarding the outer roadstead of the naval base. According to the head of the region, there are no casualties or damage," the Defense Ministry informed in traditional style.

Meanwhile, a temporary ban on ship traffic was imposed in the port of Novorossiysk. It was issued by the aforementioned CPC company, claiming that "the terminal is not damaged and continues to load oil onto moored tankers".

Subsequently, the Russian media confirmed that after the drone attack on Novorossiysk, one of the Russian landing ships capsized in the harbor. It had to be towed to the shore.

As OBOZREVATEL reported, the night of August 4 was also loud in temporarily occupied Feodosia (Crimea). Residents said that they heard the sounds of explosions and the humming of a drone flying in the sky.

Only verified information from us in Telegram-channel Obozrevatel, Threads and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!