SOCHI, RUSSIA — A Ukrainian unmanned surface vessel (USV) struck the Russian-flagged multipurpose support vessel Nefrit at the seaport of Sochi in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai on the morning of September 3, according to the Ukrainian Navy.
The Ukrainian Navy said a powerful explosion and smoke were recorded in the area of the vessel. Video footage circulated online showed an explosion near the pier where the vessel was located. Ukrinform and other Ukrainian media also reported smoke rising over the Sochi port following the attack.
Sochi: footage of this morning’s USV raid on the seaport.
— Exilenova+ (@Exilenova_plus) September 3, 2026
The likely target was a Multipurpose Supply Vessel (MPSV) used to support offshore oil and gas operations. pic.twitter.com/Ndr5bRAYV5
Nefrit was the reported target
The Nefrit is a multipurpose support vessel used for offshore oil and gas operations, servicing offshore facilities, transporting cargo and personnel, and carrying out underwater engineering work, according to information released by the Ukrainian Navy. The vessel operates under the Russian flag and had previously operated in the Novorossiysk area and elsewhere in the Black Sea.
The Ukrainian Navy described the vessel as part of Russia’s maritime and energy infrastructure and said the strike affected Russian logistics and military-economic infrastructure.
Open-source analysis by Militarnyi and information from the monitoring channel Exilenova+ placed the strike near a pier in Sochi port. Footage and photographs published after the incident showed the explosion and its aftermath. Militarnyi also reported that a Russian Pantsir air-defense system was visible near one of the strike locations.
However, available evidence does not establish whether the Pantsir system itself was deliberately targeted. Reports have also circulated about explosions elsewhere in the port area.
Flight restrictions were imposed
Russia temporarily restricted aircraft arrivals and departures at the Sochi and Gelendzhik airports on September 3. Rosaviatsiya said the restrictions were introduced to ensure flight safety. The restrictions were later lifted.
The flight restrictions occurred amid reports of drone activity in the region. However, there is no publicly confirmed evidence establishing that aerial UAVs were used alongside the naval drone in the Sochi port attack. Publicly available reports have primarily identified the attack on Nefrit as being carried out by an unmanned surface vessel.
Expanding Ukrainian USV operations in the Black Sea
The Sochi strike adds to Ukraine’s recent use of unmanned surface vessels against Russian maritime targets and port infrastructure in the Black Sea.
In the previous month, Ukrainian forces also carried out an attack on Russian naval and port facilities in Novorossiysk, reportedly involving Neptune missiles, Palianytsia turbojet drones and unmanned surface vessels.
The September 3 attack demonstrates that Ukrainian naval drones continue to be used against Russian vessels and infrastructure along the Black Sea coast, including targets located away from the immediate front line.
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