Ukrainian Strike Drones Target Sheskharis Oil Terminal in Second Novorossiysk Attack of 2026

Major fire erupts at Sheskharis oil terminal following a Ukrainian drone strike. Critical berths and metering systems damaged at Russia's Black Sea export hub.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 6, 2026, 10:27 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Militarnyi

Overnight Assault on the Black Sea Energy Hub

Ukrainian strike drones successfully penetrated the airspace over Novorossiysk during the early hours of April 6, targeting the Sheskharis oil terminal. Local residents reported a series of numerous explosions followed by a significant blaze within the transshipment facility. Data from NASA’s FIRMS monitoring service corroborated these accounts, detecting an abnormal thermal spike at 01:57 local time, which indicates a high intensity fire consistent with an oil related ignition. This operation marks the latest in a series of intensifying strikes aimed at degrading the logistical capabilities of the Russian energy sector.

Precision Strikes on Port Infrastructure

Detailed geolocation analysis by the CyberBoroshno community has identified the specific points of impact within the terminal’s sprawling territory. The attack reportedly struck Berth No. 1 and Berth No. 2, with the former suffering a major fire fueled by an active oil spill. Furthermore, the drones successfully engaged the terminal's shut-off valves and commercial metering systems. These components are essential for the precise regulation and measurement of oil flows between loading points, and their destruction creates a technical bottleneck that could effectively paralyze the facility's shipping capacity.

Strategic Importance of the Sheskharis Facility

The Sheskharis terminal serves as a foundational pillar of Russia’s oil export infrastructure, acting as the final destination for major pipelines across the Krasnodar Krai. The complex is divided into two primary industrial sites, Sheskharis and Grushovaya, which are separated by 12 kilometers but interconnected by a specialized technological tunnel through the Markotkh Ridge. With a designed throughput capacity of 75 million tons per year and a massive storage volume of 1.28 million cubic meters, the facility is equipped to handle massive shipments of up to 250,000 tons per vessel.