Russian MOD details new strikes on Ukrainian shipping and ports

Moscow has targeted two fuel depots and a vessel used to transport military supplies

The Russian military has conducted new strikes on multiple Ukrainian port infrastructure and shipping targets in the Black Sea, the Defense Ministry in Moscow has said.

In recent weeks, the Russian military has escalated long-range strikes in the strategic body of water, seeking to disrupt the flow of military supplies and weaponry to Ukraine. Multiple freighters and combat and auxiliary vessels have been struck, along with assorted port installations.

The strikes continued throughout Monday, the Defense Ministry said, providing a detailed list of targets. A fuel unloading and storage facility was hit in Odessa, with another fuel depot attacked in the nearby port of Chernomorsk. A cargo vessel was struck in Nikolayev, located on the Southern Bug River.

On Sunday, the authorities in Odessa confirmed a foreign-flagged vessel had capsized and sunk near the city. The vessel is believed to be the Guinea-Bissau-flagged cargo vessel Golden Leo, which was struck by the Russian military last weekend. Unlike the bulk of shipping targeted in recent weeks by Russian AI-powered Seeker drones, it was reportedly struck by at least two anti-ship missiles, sustaining heavy damage and catching fire.

The campaign against Ukrainian port infrastructure and freight in the Black Sea comes as both Moscow and Kiev have increased their long-range attacks. Ukrainian forces have repeatedly struck assorted targets deep inside Russia recently, including purely civilian installations such as online marketplace depots. 

Moscow has condemned such strikes as indiscriminate terrorist attacks against civilian infrastructure, ramping up retaliatory attacks. The Russian military maintains it never targets civilian sites, focusing only on dual-use and military installations.