Key facts
- Russia claims to have struck at least two Ukrainian vessels in the Black Sea, including one carrying military cargo.
- Russian forces targeted infrastructure at the port of Mykolaiv, including facilities for military cargo and fuel.
- A vessel east of Odesa was struck by drones while delivering military cargo.
- Ukrainian officials reported that Russian drone attacks damaged civilian vessels in Mykolaiv, resulting in casualties.
- Russia has intensified attacks on Ukrainian ports and maritime export routes.
Russia stated on Tuesday that its forces struck at least two Ukrainian vessels in the Black Sea, including a bulk carrier carrying military cargo, and also hit the port of Mykolaiv. The Russian Defense Ministry reported that infrastructure facilities at the port's transshipment complex used for military cargo and fuel, as well as fuel and lubricant tanks, were hit. Additionally, drones struck a dry cargo vessel east of Odesa that was delivering military cargo.
Ukrainian officials reported that Russian drone attacks on port infrastructure in Mykolaiv damaged three civilian foreign-flagged vessels, killing two Ukrainians on board. Another man was killed in a Russian attack on Odesa. The Odesa Regional Governor stated a Marshall Islands-flagged vessel in the region was damaged and caught fire, with its entire crew evacuated.
Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukraine's maritime export routes, with strikes focusing on deepwater ports. Ukraine's seaports authority reported that Russia had hit Ukrainian ports and civilian vessels multiple times in July, resulting in 11 deaths. A Russian attack also struck a small Turkish-operated cargo ship in the Danube, and the bulker Golden Leo reportedly sank after sustaining multiple drone attacks in the Odesa region.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had warned of expected intensified Russian attacks on Black Sea ports. In response to the dangerous conditions, Maersk suspended container service to the Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk, and other ship owners deemed it too dangerous to send cargo ships into the ports.