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COLUMN: A Ukrainian naval drone strikes the NEFRIT, and offshore energy becomes a target
Maxime Marquette

Primary Sources:

Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, official channel: strike by a naval surface drone on the Russian-flagged multifunctional support vessel NEFRIT in the port of Sochi; explosion and smoke observed near the vessel; role of the vessel (oil and gas logistics, servicing offshore facilities, transport of cargo and personnel, underwater technical operations), September 3, 2026

VesselFinder, NEFRIT registry record: IMO number 9297773, MMSI 273292650, call sign UBDW8, Russian-flagged offshore support vessel, built in 2004, gross tonnage 3,963, deadweight 3,660 metric tons, 90.70 m by 18.80 m, history of names BOURBON JADE / NEFRIT and flags Norway, France, Palau, and Russia; last port: Novorossiysk, departed August 11, 2024; accessed September 3, 2026

MyShipTracking, automatic identification record for the NEFRIT: offshore supply vessel, flying the Russian flag, 2004, 3,963 gross registered tons, 3,660 metric metric tons deadweight, 91 m by 18 m, last port: Haydarpacha, departed on December 14, 2025, last position in the Black Sea on March 2, 2026, at 1.2 knots, status: restricted maneuverability, accessed September 3, 2026

Russian Maritime Register of Shipping, register book, search for the name NEFRIT: entries under the Russian flag, port of registry, and call signs, accessed September 3, 2026

General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, official channel: morning operational update and air defense report on 135 targets intercepted on September 3, 2026; reported strike on the NOVATEK complex in Ust-Luga on September 1, 2026

Russian Ministry of Defense, official channel: press releases dated September 2 and 3, 2026, with no mention of Sochi or surface drones in the Black Sea

Secondary Sources:

United24 Media: A Ukrainian naval drone struck the NEFRIT, a Russian offshore oil and gas support vessel, in the port of Sochi; no casualties reported, September 3, 2026

Militarnyi: A Ukrainian surface drone strikes the Russian supply vessel Nefrit near a pier in the port of Sochi; the vessel is a multipurpose support ship for oil and gas operations in the Black Sea and the Novorossiysk area, September 3, 2026

Militarnyi, Ukrainian naval drones attack the Port of Sochi, which is protected by a Pantsir system: explosions in the city center; residents urged to stay away from the port area; damage confirmed via geolocation; flight restrictions imposed at the airports in Sochi and Gelendzhik, September 3, 2026

Exilenova+, open-source intelligence channel: 11:18 a.m. report on the strike by the NEFRIT at the port of Sochi, description of the Russian-flagged multipurpose supply vessel, September 3, 2026

Encyclopedic entry on Chornomornaftogaz: a subsidiary of Naftogaz, holding licenses for 17 fields, four jack-up rigs and eight fixed drilling platforms, reserves of 58.6 billion cubic meters of gas, assets seized by the Crimean parliament in 2014 and managed by Gazprom, sanctions imposed by the U.S. Treasury on April 11, 2014, and by the European Union on May 13, 2014, accessed September 3, 2026

Encyclopedic entry on Boyko Towers: drilling platforms purchased in May 2012 by Chornomornaftogaz at above-market prices amid allegations of corruption; nickname derived from a former energy minister; three gas facilities damaged near Cape Tarkhankut on June 20, 2022; the towers were recaptured by Ukrainian forces in September 2023; accessed September 3, 2026

Militarnyi, satellite imagery: primary and secondary processing units damaged at the Kstovo refinery by a drone strike on August 26, 2026; published on September 3, 2026

Militarnyi, the Kirichi refinery—Russia’s second-largest—completely halts oil processing following drone strikes, September 2, 2026

Vesseltracker, NEFRIT OMI 9297773 profile: 91 m by 18 m, flying the Russian flag, vessel struck by a Ukrainian surface drone at the port of Sochi on September 3, 2026; provides support for oil and gas operations and underwater work

This content was created with the help of AI.

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