During the night of July 16, Sevastopol endured another drone raid. Air defense systems, along with fleet units and electronic warfare teams, intercepted threats around Cape Hersones, Sevastopol Bay, and Balaklava. Governor Mikhail Razvozhaev confirmed the defenses neutralized the threat, noting that one unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) fell to the sea, five were suppressed by electronic warfare, and two surface drones on approaches to the outer coastal route were eliminated. A separate drone was shot down near Cape Manganari in Sevastopol. Razvozhaev described the attack as extensive and prolonged, emphasizing that no targets were damaged either within the city limits or in the adjacent water area, and that all critical services remained on high alert throughout the incident. In his assessment, the city currently remains calm, though all operational services continue to monitor the situation closely.
The Russian Ministry of Defense responded to the attack
The Russian Defense Ministry stated that the assault aimed at maritime and coastal facilities was repelled, labeling it a terrorist attack. The ministry announced that seven drones and two unmanned semi-submersible boats attempted to strike objects in the peninsula. Naval air defenses and surface forces reported the destruction of two aircraft off the coast of the Black Sea, with five additional UAVs neutralized by electronic warfare measures. The ministry further noted that two unmanned boats belonging to Ukrainian forces operating in the northern Black Sea were found and destroyed using standard naval weapons. The agency asserted that there were no casualties or material damage in the incident.
Chronicle of the night attack
Razvozhaev disclosed that drone activity began in the early hours, with reports indicating a three o’clock start. About ninety minutes earlier, a Telegram channel linked to Volodymyr Rogov, a member of the Zaporizhzhia regional administration, reported explosion sounds in Sevastopol. Rogov’s channel also repeated accounts of air defense work by Russian forces in Sevastopol, noting at least two prominent bursts of activity. Local observers reported two powerful explosions audible from Sevastopol Bay. Amid the drone assault, ferry and boat movements were suspended, impacting sea-based transit. The Sevastopol Ministry of Transport later confirmed that sea passenger routes were halted during the peak of the attack, with limited bus service arranged around key stop points such as Nakhimov Square and Zakharova Square. Ferry operations resumed about three hours after the disruption began.
Sevastopol serves as the main base for the Black Sea Fleet. Since mid-2022, the city has faced a rise in drone and other aerial threats, with the most recent incident following a history of reflected attacks. Earlier updates from the city mayor noted a drone interference event on May 25, when one drone lost control and crashed into a forested area near the outskirts, while two others were shot down over the sea. Mid-May observations also documented the downing of four drones in northern Crimea by air defense forces. The region has operated under a moderate level of intervention and a yellow high-terror threat status since October 2022.
[Local administration reports] [Defense analysis summaries] The ongoing security posture reflects a persistent emphasis on coastal and maritime defense readiness, with authorities maintaining heightened alert and continuity of essential services despite repeated drone incursions. Observers note the pattern of cross-border drone activity, the use of electronic warfare to disrupt aerial threats, and the strategic importance of Sevastopol as a critical Black Sea Fleet hub. Authorities continue to monitor coastal traffic, coordinate emergency responses, and keep the public informed about safety measures without publishing sensitive operational specifics. Citations provided for situational context include official statements from the Russian Ministry of Defense and city administration communications.