Moscow: Early on Friday, Russian warships retaliated against an attack by Ukrainian sea drones on a Russian navy base close to the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, a significant hub for Russian exports.

The Caspian Pipeline Consortium, which runs an oil terminal in Novorossiysk, claims that the attack forced the port to momentarily stop all ship movements.

On Friday morning, Russian social media users claimed to have heard gunfire and explosions close to Novorossiysk. If true, it would mark the first time the Ukrainians had attacked a major port serving Russian commerce.

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The Novorossiysk port has temporarily stopped allowing any ship movement, according to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, which loads oil onto tankers there. It claimed that none of its facilities had been damaged and that oil was still being loaded onto moored tankers.

Videos of the movement of ships just off the coast and the sound of gunfire coming from the direction of the sea were posted on a local online community and shared by the Russian online news outlet Astra.

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According to the Russian RIA news agency, Novorossiysk's emergency services have confirmed reports of explosions and have informed security services. One of the largest in the Black Sea is the port.

The main exporter of Kazakh crude oil is the Caspian Pipeline Consortium.
Since Russia refused last month to extend a deal allowing for the safe export of grain from Ukrainian ports, tensions in the Black Sea and nearby ports have risen. Russian drones and missiles have attacked several Ukrainian port facilities and grain silos on or near the Black Sea.

Additionally, Russia has reported that Ukrainian sea drones attacked its warships that were escorting a ship carrying civilians.

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According to the Russian defence ministry, Russian air defences downed 10 Ukrainian drones over Crimea on Friday morning and suppressed three more with electronic countermeasures.