Russia claims hitting two Ukrainian ships in Black Sea and Mykolaiv port

Russia's Ministry of Defense announced on Tuesday that its forces struck at least two Ukrainian vessels, one of which was a cargo ship delivering military supplies in the Black Sea. The ministry also reported hitting the port of Mykolaiv.

According to the ministry's statement, the strikes utilized "munitions that linger and attack drones." The targets in Mykolaiv included infrastructure within the transshipment complex used for military cargo and fuel storage facilities designated for the Ukrainian armed forces. Additionally, Russian drones reportedly hit a cargo ship 11 kilometers east of Odesa, which was en route to the ports of Odesa and Chornomorsk with military cargo.

These reported strikes come amid a recent escalation of military activities in and around the Black and Azov Seas. Both Russia and Ukraine have engaged in numerous attacks on vessels, including oil tankers and cargo ships, in recent weeks. Reuters noted that it could not independently verify these claims.