Russian UAVs attack strategic port in southern Ukraine

Ukraine claims to have shot down 22 Russian UAVs, but three slipped through the air defenses and hit infrastructure at the export port in Odessa province.

"Russian forces carried out several consecutive attacks, using a total of 25 Shahed-136/131 suicide drones (UAVs) targeting the southern region of Odessa province in the early morning of September 3. Ukrainian air defense forces shot down 22 of these targets," the Ukrainian Air Force Command said.

The Ukrainian military's Southern Operations Command said civilian infrastructure on the banks of the Danube River was hit by a Russian UAV, injuring at least two people, but did not give a specific location.

Fire at a facility that was raided in Odessa province in mid-August. Photo: Reuters

Ukrainian media earlier reported loud explosions at Reni, one of Kiev's two key export ports on the Danube River.

The Russian Defense Ministry has not commented on the information.

The Danube River has become Ukraine's main grain export route since Russia withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Initiative in July. Ukrainian grain is transported by barge from the ports of Reni and Izmail in Odessa province to the Romanian seaport of Constanta, then on to other destinations.

The grain initiative, brokered by the United Nations and Türkiye in July 2022, would allow Ukraine to resume seaborne exports of corn, wheat and other agricultural products. In return, the West would remove barriers to Russian food and fertilizer exports.

Location of Odessa Oblast and the Danube River. Graphics: RYV

Russia suspended the extension of the initiative in mid-July, saying that its provisions were not being implemented. Moscow added that it could consider returning to the agreement if it saw concrete results, rather than promises.

Moscow and Kiev then increased their military activity at sea. Russia attacked Ukrainian port infrastructure on the Black Sea and the Danube. In response, Ukraine launched a series of attacks on Russian ships in its waters and the Crimean peninsula.

Ukraine on August 2 accused Russia of using UAVs to "raid grain warehouses" at the port of Izmail, destroying 40,000 tons of cargo. The Russian Defense Ministry said the location of the attack was a shelter for foreign mercenaries and a Ukrainian weapons depot.

Vu Anh (According to Reuters )

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