Russia launched a wave of drone attack in Odesa region on 30 December, damaged port infrastructure and several civilian vessels. Ukraine says it is facing near-daily Russian drone and missile attacks despite U.S. and European diplomatic efforts to broker peace in the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war.
The Ukrainian navy reported that Russian drones attacked the two Panama-flagged vessels Captain Karim (built 2006) and the 2000-built vessel Emmarkis III as they entered Black Sea Port to load wheat. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said oil storage tanks were also hit in the attack.
According to the Navy, the ports of Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi were the primary targets of the drone attacks. These two ports have become critical alternatives since the port of Odesa began coming under intense attack as early as 2022. Despite the attack both ports continue to operate.
