The key facts
- Russian Defense Ministry: a cargo ship with military cargo for Ukraine was struck while traveling by sea to the port of Odessa
- The attack was carried out before the vessel entered the harbor and began unloading
- Earlier, according to the Russian Defense Ministry on October 9, two more cargo ships with cargo for the Ukrainian Armed Forces were struck in the Odessa region
Russian Defense Ministry statement on the strike on the vessel
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that Russian forces thwarted an attempt to deliver military equipment by sea for the Ukrainian army. According to the ministry, the sea transport was tracked and attacked in the Black Sea while en route — before entering the harbor and beginning unloading. The ministry stated: «While traveling by sea to the port of Odessa, a sea vessel of the „cargo ship“ type delivering military cargo to Ukraine was struck».
Assessment of the strike's consequences
As noted in the report by the Russian military ministry, the destruction of the transport with military cargo at the transportation stage deprives the Ukrainian group of a significant amount of weapons, ammunition and materiel before they reach distribution depots and the front line.
Previous similar statements
Earlier, Life.ru, citing data from the Russian Defense Ministry dated October 9, reported the striking of two cargo ships with cargo for the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Odessa region: according to these data, one vessel was in the port of Chornomorsk, and the second was struck during its sea passage.
