Video: Ukrainian Naval Drone Hits Russian Offshore Support Ship In Sochi

Ukrainian Navy said it destroyed a Russian-flagged support vessel with a naval drone in the port of Sochi on Sept. 3. The vessel, Nefrit, was hit by an unmanned surface vessel (USV).

Nefrit is a multipurpose support ship used for oil and gas operations, offshore facilities, cargo and personnel transport, and underwater technical work.

The attack was part of a series of Ukrainian attacks on Sochi on Sept. 3-4. Ukraine said the attack damaged Russian logistics and specialised maritime equipment linked to its maritime and energy infrastructure.

Video released by the Ukrainian Navy showed an explosion and smoke near the vessel.

Explosions Reported in Sochi

Several explosions were reported in Sochi during the attacks.

Sochi Mayor Andrey Proshunin warned residents at about 6 a.m. local time on Sept. 3 that there was a threat of a USV attack.

About 30 minutes later, he issued an all-clear. He did not give details about what had happened.
Several separate reports said an explosion took place near a Russian Pantsir air defence system at the port.

Later, during the overnight hours of Sept. 4, videos posted by several Russian Telegram channels appeared to show a fire at an oil depot after an aerial attack.

❗️The moment of today’s explosion of a Ukrainian surface kamikaze drone next to a Russian ship in Sochi. pic.twitter.com/zpavwj97BW

— 🪖MilitaryNewsUA🇺🇦 (@front_ukrainian) September 3, 2026

Long-Range USV Strike

The attack on Nefrit was one of the farthest reported Ukrainian USV strikes against a Russian target in the Black Sea.

Sochi is about 350 miles from the nearest Ukrainian-held territory in a direct line. A USV travelling from Ukrainian-held shores would have to travel farther by sea.

The attack appears to be the first known Ukrainian USV strike on Sochi. The city has previously been targeted by Ukrainian aerial drones.

Ukraine has used naval drones against other Russian targets in the Black Sea.

In 2023, a Ukrainian USV struck the Russian Ropucha-class vessel Olenegorsky Gornyak in the port of Novorossiysk.

Ukraine Has Also Targeted Russian Vessels

In July, Ukrainian forces struck dozens of Russian vessels in the Black and Azov seas. The targets included tankers and other vessels that Kyiv identified as part of Russia’s shadow fleet.

Ukraine said it struck 13 vessels on July 21-22. They included 10 cargo ships, two tugboats and a tanker.

Russia’s shadow fleet is made up of vessels used to transport sanctioned Russian oil while hiding ownership to avoid Western sanctions.

A Ukrainian government register identified more than 1,400 such vessels as of May 2026. Many are older ships registered under third-country flags.

🇺🇦⚓ВМС України уразили судно забезпечення рф NEFRIT у порту Сочі
Багатоцільове судно забезпечення під прапором рф було уражене морським безекіпажним катером Військово-Морських Сил. У районі судна зафіксовано потужний вибух та задимлення.

Детальніше https://t.co/DTfnO15nYO pic.twitter.com/yPDFkks37r

— Військово-Морські Сили ЗС України (@UA_NAVY) September 3, 2026

Why Sochi Matters

Sochi is a major Russian resort city on the Black Sea. Russian President Vladimir Putin often visits the city, which is also home to his official summer residence.

The city is sometimes called Russia’s “Second Capital” and is a popular winter destination for Russia’s elite.

The Ukrainian Navy said the attack showed that Russian territory was not a safe haven and said it would continue targeting resources used to support the war.

Separately, on July 24, Ukraine’s Navy received NATO-certified authority to command multinational mine countermeasure forces.

Ukraine received the certification after completing a NATO Evaluation Level 2 assessment during the Sea Breeze 2026 exercises.

References: kyivindependent, militarnyi