Local residents of Novorossiysk reported loud explosions and a large fire near the port late in the evening of November 14. According to eyewitnesses, the fire broke out at the Sheskharis terminal, a key oil export terminal located near the city.

The terminal plays a critical role in logistics: it handles the transshipment and shipment of Russian oil and petroleum products to the Black Sea for international shipments. Information regarding the cause of the incident, including a possible drone attack, remains unconfirmed, although a UAV alert had previously been issued in the city.