russian forces attacked two civilian cargo ships sailing under the flags of Guinea-Bissau and the Marshall Islands on their way to the ports of Greater Odesa, according to the spokesperson of the Ukrainian Navy, Dmytro Pletenchuk. The incident is part of a continuing pattern of strikes on civilian maritime traffic in the Black Sea.
Dmytro Pletenchuk emphasized that this was not an isolated case, stating that civilian vessels have been repeatedly targeted in similar attacks. He noted that earlier incidents also involved foreign-flagged ships, including a Turkish vessel that was damaged but did not suffer any casualties.
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The deliberate targeting of civilian shipping highlights a broader trend of pressure on maritime trade routes connected to Ukraine's southern ports. These routes remain critical for the export of agricultural and industrial goods despite ongoing security threats in the Black Sea region.
The attacks were accompanied by strikes on port infrastructure in Odesa region, further intensifying pressure on Ukraine's key maritime logistics hub. Ukrainian forces responded by engaging incoming threats, including waves of Iranian-designed Shahed drones used in the assault.
The Ukrainian Navy reported that it played an active role in repelling the attack, successfully shooting down dozens of Shahed drones during the operation. Despite this, debris from intercepted drones fell in parts of Odesa, causing limited local damage.
Despite the scale of the attack, russia did not achieve its primary objectives. The targeted civilian vessels continued their voyages and successfully entered Ukrainian ports as planned, maintaining the flow of international trade.
The cargo carried by these ships was described as entirely humanitarian and commercial in nature, including grain, sugar, and metal shipments destined for global markets. Ukrainian authorities underlined that these deliveries are part of regular international trading routes.
Kyiv reiterated that despite repeated attacks on civilian ships and port facilities, maritime traffic to Odesa continues to operate, underscoring both the resilience of Ukraine's export corridors and the ongoing risks faced by commercial shipping in the Black Sea.
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