The key facts
- The Russian Defense Ministry on November 6 claimed hitting 14 dry cargo ships over the last seven days
- A week earlier the ministry reported 11 ships delivering cargo from October 24 to 30
- On November 4 a strike on a dry cargo ship in the port of Odesa was reported, and on November 3 — on two vessels in the port of Pivdennyi and the Black Sea
What the Defense Ministry reported
Russian forces over the past week struck 14 dry cargo ships involved in supplying weapons and military equipment to Ukraine. This was reported on November 6 by the Russian Defense Ministry. According to the ministry, the ships were carrying dual-purpose goods intended for the needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces; all 14 dry cargo ships were hit over the last seven days.
Two-week dynamics and strikes on ports
The claimed figure has grown compared with the previous week: back then the Russian Defense Ministry reported the destruction of 11 dry cargo ships that from October 24 to 30 delivered weapons to Ukraine, military equipment and dual-purpose goods. In the same report, the ministry also claimed strikes on Ukrainian port infrastructure facilities that ensured the receipt, storage and distribution of military cargo.
Individual episodes
In addition to the weekly report, the ministry also announced pinpoint strikes on ships. On November 4, according to the Defense Ministry, Russian drones hit a dry cargo ship in the port of Odesathat was carrying military property and dual-purpose cargo. A day earlier, strikes on two more vessels were reported: one was in the port of Pivdennyi, the other in the Black Sea.
What is important to keep in mind
All of the above information comes from a single source — the Russian military ministry as relayed by Life.ru; there is no independent confirmation of the number and nature of the ships hit in available publications. Nor are the names of the vessels, their owners, or casualty data disclosed. A comparison of the reports shows that strikes on ships and port infrastructure have continued for at least two weeks in a row, and the claimed number of dry cargo ships hit in a week has risen from 11 to 14 — while the ministry's counting methodology is not explained.
