Russia Says It Struck Cargo Vessels Accused Of Carrying Military Supplies To Ukraine

Russia said its forces struck Ukrainian military facilities, cargo ships and port infrastructure during attacks on Thursday, September 24.

The Russian Defence Ministry said the strikes targeted military supply centres, drone production sites and vessels carrying military goods to the Black Sea ports of Odesa and Chornomorsk. It also reported strikes on port infrastructure in Reni, on the Danube River.

The ministry said the attacks targeted facilities used by Ukraine’s armed forces. It did not provide details of the damage caused.

Overnight, Russian forces struck facilities producing drones and drone parts in the Kyiv region, two telecommunications centres serving the Ukrainian military and logistics centres at Odesa port, the ministry said.

It also reported strikes on a drone assembly and storage site in the Kyiv region and port infrastructure in Reni.

The ministry said Russian forces hit a cargo ship carrying military and dual-use goods to Odesa.

Later, it reported another strike on a cargo vessel in the Odesa region that it said had delivered military supplies to Chornomorsk.

Russia also said it struck a logistics centre used by Ukraine’s military and security forces and a data centre used to process and send intelligence information.

In separate statements, the ministry reported strikes on another logistics centre in Odesa, a drone storage warehouse in Novi Biliari in the Odesa region and a cargo vessel heading to Odesa.

The ministry did not name the vessels or provide details about their flags, operators or cargo. It also did not say whether the ships were damaged or destroyed.

The reported strikes covered military facilities, port infrastructure and vessels linked by Russia to military supplies. The extent of the damage and any effect on shipping around Odesa, Chornomorsk and Reni remained unclear.

The Russian claims could not be independently verified from the information provided.

References: Reuters, The Hindu