Edward Marchesi Overnight on Sunday, the Russian military announced a series of targeted strikes against targets considered vital to the Ukrainian military. The Ministry of Defense said it struck three cargo vessels believed to be loaded with war material, as well as two electrical substations that supply power to defense industry facilities.
The events occurred in the Black Sea region and in the inland regions of Dnipropetrovsk and Zhytomyr, raising immediate concerns about the consequences for the civilian population.
Three cargo ships attacked in the ports of Odesa and Chornomorsk
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, a container ship carrying weapons and military equipment destined for Ukrainian forces was hit while docking at the port of Odesa .
A second cargo ship, also a container ship, was attacked in the nearby port of Chornomorsk , where it had unloaded a cargo considered dual-use , meaning it could be used for both civilian and military purposes. The third vehicle, a bulk carrier, was hit offshore, southwest of Odesa, and Russian authorities identified it as carrying war material destined for Ukrainian troops.
The case of the dry ship off the coast of Odesa
The vessel, dubbed a "dry cargo ship," was reportedly intercepted during a supply run to the Black Sea. Information provided by the Ministry suggests that ammunition and defense equipment intended to strengthen the operational capabilities of Ukrainian forces were on board. Despite the serious accusation, Ukrainian authorities have yet to issue any statements confirming or denying the allegations, leaving the facts in a gray area of verifiability.
Damage to electrical substations in Dnipropetrovsk and Zhytomyr
In parallel with the naval attack, Russian forces reportedly struck two electrical substations located in the Dnipropetrovsk and Zhytomyr regions, respectively . These facilities supply power to military-industrial facilities, making their operation crucial to weapons production. The Ministry of Defense claimed that the power outage was intended to weaken the productive capacity of Ukraine's defense industry.
Energy group DTEK confirmed that the overnight attack in Dnipropetrovsk caused a blackout that left over 600.000 people without power. A message posted on the company's Telegram channel indicates that key energy infrastructure in the area was damaged, increasing the hardship for civilians and businesses in the region.
So far, international news agencies have been unable to independently verify the Russian Ministry of Defense's claims, nor have they received an immediate response from the Ukrainian authorities. Uncertainty about the true size of the war cargo aboard the ships and the extent of the damage to power grids is fueling a climate of tension, with potential repercussions not only on the military front but also on the civilian population, who are having to cope with prolonged power outages.