Minus Kalibr Carrier: SBU Reveals Details Of Strike On Novorossiysk Port

• 5.03.2026, 15:44

The fire on the deck of the Russian frigate Admiral Essen lasted for about 18 hours.

Sources in the security service confirmed that during the attack on the port of Novorossiysk on the night of March 2, the SBU together with the Defense Forces struck the frigate Admiral Essen, a carrier of eight Kalibr cruise missiles. The strike hit the middle superstructure of the ship, RBC-Ukraine writes.

It exploded grenade launchers firing off heat traps and radio scatterers, damaged the TK-25 electronic warfare complex, which detects radar radiation and creates interference, and hit the ZR-90 Walnut target illumination radars that are part of the guidance system of the ship's anti-aircraft missile system.

The main surveillance radar "Fregat-M2M", which is responsible for long-range detection of air and surface targets, was also probably damaged.

"During the operation, the SBU broke through the dense and multi-level enemy air defense system around Novorossiysk bay and port. The fire on the deck lasted for about 18 hours - indicating serious internal damage and hampering the work of emergency teams," the informed source said.

The ship has suffered critical damage that significantly limits its ability to use Kalibr cruise missiles."

Now the frigate can not strike the territory of Ukraine.

The photographic evidence of the Russian frigate's damage has also been made public, which confirms critical damage to the ship's superstructure and onboard equipment.

We recall that on the night of March 2, Ukrainian drones launched a massive strike on the Russian Black Sea Fleet. As a result of the attack, at least five enemy ships were damaged.

Sources in the security services confirmed that the joint operation by the SBU and the Defense Forces led to the defeat of the Valentin Pikul minesweeper and also caused serious damage to the Yeisk and Kasimov anti-submarine ships.