Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck Russia’s naval base in Novorossiysk overnight on Wednesday, Aug. 12, using Palianytsia drone missiles, Neptune missiles, and maritime unmanned systems, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.The attack targeted Russia’s main remaining Black Sea Fleet stronghold, located more than 300 kilometers (186 miles) from the front line, according to Zelensky.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.“We have confirmed hits on air defense positions, piers and the infrastructure of the seaport,” Zelensky said in a statement posted to Telegram.Ukraine targets Russia’s Black Sea strongholdZelensky described the operation as a unique strike against what he called Russia’s last major naval stronghold in the Black Sea.According to Zelensky, the operation combined several types of Ukrainian-made and Ukrainian-operated weapons, including Palianytsia missile drones, Neptune missiles, and maritime unmanned systems.The strike comes as Russia has increasingly relied on Novorossiysk after Ukraine’s repeated attacks on Russian naval assets and infrastructure in occupied Crimea.Zelensky said the operation demonstrated that Russian naval forces and the infrastructure supporting them would remain vulnerable while Moscow continues its invasion of Ukraine.Strike comes amid pressure around NovorossiyskThe attack follows a recent dispute between Kyiv and Washington over Ukrainian strikes around Novorossiysk.According to the Financial Times, US Vice President JD Vance asked Zelensky during a July 31 call to halt attacks on oil tankers using the port, particularly vessels linked to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) carrying Kazakh crude.