MOSCOW — Russia’s military announced Wednesday that it carried out strikes against the Ukrainian port cities of Odesa and Chornomorsk, saying the attacks targeted harbor infrastructure and ships it claimed were being used to support Ukrainian forces.
According to Russia’s defense ministry, the strikes in Chornomorsk hit a dry-cargo ship that was in the process of unloading at the port, along with a military cargo storage facility and tanks holding fuel and lubricants.
In Odesa, the ministry said Russian forces struck loading and storage facilities, as well as a dry-cargo ship and a bulk carrier that it claimed were transporting supplies for the Ukrainian military. Russian drone strikes also reportedly destroyed three warehouses being used to store Ukrainian drones, the ministry stated.
Reuters was unable to independently verify the claims made by Russia’s defense ministry.
The attacks come as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine approaches the four-and-a-half-year mark. Both sides have significantly increased their military operations in and around the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, with each targeting dozens of vessels — including oil tankers and commercial cargo ships — throughout the course of the war.
