Frigate 'Admiral Essen' Struck Again During Attack on Novorossiysk
The frigate 'Admiral Essen' was hit once more during a morning attack on Novorossiysk, located in Russia's Krasnodar region, on April 6. Reports indicate that the damage has been confirmed through various sources.
On April 6, the frigate 'Admiral Essen' sustained damage during a morning assault on Novorossiysk, a port city in Russia's Krasnodar region. According to the OSINT community CyberBoroshno via Telegram on April 7, an analysis of available images revealed two key indicators confirming the strike: the distinctive white color of the radars, which is unique to 'Essen' compared to other frigates of the 11356P project, and the fact that the 'Admiral Makarov' remained in the same position after the attack as it did following a previous strike.
Furthermore, the Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova+ reported that satellite imagery showed several areas of the Sheskharis oil and gas terminal were damaged during the attack on Monday. Specifically, the pipelines near berths No. 1 and No. 2, as well as berth No. 2 itself, suffered significant damage.
"Additionally, a strike was recorded on a pipeline in another loading area located near the SICN nodes and the shut-off valves of the pipeline system," the report stated. Images also indicated damage to one of the frigates of the 11356P project at the Novorossiysk naval base, although Exilenova+ did not specify the name of the vessel.
In a subsequent update on Tuesday morning, Exilenova+ reported that the frigate had been struck at least twice, as confirmed by satellite and video analyses. The first strike hit the area near the UKSK 3S14 vertical launch systems for 'Kalibr' missiles at the berth. The exact extent of the damage remains unknown, but it is likely limited to the impact of the shockwave without critical structural damage.
The second strike impacted the anchor and mooring section at the bow of the frigate—a technically secondary area—likely leaving the combat capability of the vessel largely unchanged. "At the time of the strikes, personnel were on board. Crew members could have been at risk," Exilenova+ noted.
This attack on the frigate 'Admiral Essen' is part of broader military operations in the Black Sea, where Ukraine continues to actively counter Russian military forces. It is worth noting that the frigate 'Admiral Essen' has previously been targeted in attacks, and its involvement in military operations has drawn significant interest from the international community.