Ukraine: Russian refinery in the Rostov region hit. Moscow attacks merchant ship bound for Odessa
Moscow claims responsibility for the attack on a ship carrying military equipment bound for Odessa, whilst Kyiv responds with incendiary drones targeting Russian oil infrastructure in the south
Key points
Russian forces are reported to have struck a merchant ship which, according to Moscow, was carrying military equipment bound for the Ukrainian port of Odessa on the Black Sea. This was stated this morning by the Russian Ministry of Defence, which reported a new series of night-time drone attacks on Ukrainian port infrastructure and vessels used to transport supplies intended for the Ukrainian armed forces.
“Following the attack, a cargo ship carrying military equipment to the port of Odessa was struck at sea,” reads the statement from the Russian Ministry of Defence.
According to Moscow, Russian forces reportedly continued operations overnight using unmanned aerial vehicles against port infrastructure and naval vessels deployed in support of the Ukrainian army. The ministry did not provide any details regarding the identity, flag or condition of the vessel struck, nor the extent of any damage.
Since mid-July, Russia has stepped up its attacks on port infrastructure in southern Ukraine and on vessels which, according to the Russian authorities, are involved in transporting military equipment destined for Ukrainian forces in the Black Sea.
Ukrainian drones over Russian oil export terminal
On the other side of the front line, the Ukrainian armed forces carried out a drone attack on an oil export terminal in Novoshakhtinsk, in the Rostov region of southern Russia, causing a massive fire. This has been reported by local media, whilst images of the refinery ablaze have been shared on social media.
