The attacks have raised concerns in neighbouring countries and over global grain flows
The Black Sea is witnessing a renewed military escalation as Russia and Ukraine intensify attacks against naval assets, military infrastructure and vessels linked to the war effort.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday that Kyiv’s forces had successfully struck two Russian military patrol boats and vessels linked to Moscow’s so-called “shadow fleet”, a network of tankers used to transport Russian oil despite Western sanctions.
Ukraine has increasingly relied on naval drones and long-range weapons to challenge Russia’s maritime presence and target assets supporting Moscow’s military operations.
Russia, meanwhile, says its strikes are aimed at disrupting Ukrainian military logistics. On Thursday, Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed that attack drones had hit two cargo vessels carrying military equipment for the Ukrainian armed forces south and east of Odesa.
