The key facts

  • Russian Defense Ministry: on November 6 in the afternoon, a bulk carrier southwest of Odesa carrying military cargo for the Ukrainian Armed Forces was struck
  • The ministry says UAV strikes on vessels delivering military cargo continue
  • Earlier, a strike on a bulk carrier 30 km south of Odesa was reported on October 30

Strike near the Odesa coast

Russia's Ministry of Defense reported that on the afternoon of November 6, a bulk carrier was struck in the Black Sea southwest of Odesa. According to the ministry, the vessel was carrying military property and dual-use goods to Ukraine. The statement was released through the ministry's press service on the Max messenger; it was reported by Gazeta.Ru and Life.ru.

Stated goal — resupplying the Ukrainian Armed Forces by sea

The Ministry of Defense noted that the Russian Armed Forces continue to launch UAV strikes against sea vessels used to deliver military cargo to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Life.ru quotes the ministry's wording: «Today in the afternoon, as a result of a strike in the Black Sea southwest of Odesa, a bulk carrier was hit.» The outlet also notes that the Ministry of Defense had earlier reported a strike on a bulk carrier 30 kilometers south of Odesa: on October 30, drones attacked a vessel during its sea passage which, according to the ministry, was carrying military cargo and dual-use products for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Context of other strikes

Alongside this news, Gazeta.Ru lists other strikes claimed by the Ministry of Defense: on the morning of November 5 — against a 330 kV electrical substation in Dnipropetrovsk region; before that — against the Nova Poshta logistics center in Berdychiv, Zhytomyr region, where, according to the ministry, cargo supplied by Western states for the Ukrainian army was stored and distributed. Strikes were also reported against port infrastructure used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, UAV launch and storage sites, and temporary deployment points of Ukrainian formations and foreign mercenaries. According to the outlet, Ukraine earlier announced the destruction of the last large Epicentr logistics facility. All of this information comes from the Russian side or from Ukrainian statements cited by the outlets; the publications themselves contain no independent confirmation.