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The Russian Defense Ministry said its forces struck five dry cargo ships involved in delivering military supplies to the Ukrainian army, using Geran drones. The strikes occurred on the evening of August 3 and on August 4, with vessels hit while at anchor, at the port of Nikolayev, and in the Black Sea operational area east and south of Odessa, according to a ministry statement carried by the Russian state news agency TASS.

The ministry said all designated targets had been hit, reducing the enemy's ability to transport weapons, military equipment, and other military supplies. It released what it described as "objective control footage" of the strikes, which it said reached their targets.

Coverage Comparison

All reporting on this story comes from TASS, the Russian state news agency, which cited the Russian Defense Ministry. The coverage spans several incidents over a period from July to August, with the ministry issuing statements and video footage for each strike.

The earliest reported strike, dated July 12, targeted a ferry in the port of Chernomorsk, Odessa Region, to reduce the Ukrainian Armed Forces' ability to transport weapons. The ministry said the ferry was hit by a Geran-4 Seeker UAV.

A July 16 report described Russian forces hitting a vessel in the Black Sea carrying military cargo for the Ukrainian army en route to the port of Chernomorsk. In this case, the ministry said the vessel was struck by Geran-2 drones.

On July 22, the ministry announced that Geran-4 Seeker drones had struck five bulk carriers being used in the interests of the Ukrainian armed forces in the Black Sea and the port of Chernomorsk. The ministry published footage of the strikes on four vessels of the dry cargo carrier type and one bulk-carrier-type ship.

A July 25 report said Russian forces struck a cargo ship and two tugboats at the port of Nikolayev using Geran-4 Seeker drones. The ministry said objective monitoring confirmed the destruction of the cargo ship, which had been used to deliver military cargo for the Ukrainian armed forces, as well as two tugboats moored at the pier.

The most recent report, dated August 5, described strikes on five dry cargo ships. The ministry said that on the evening of August 3 and on August 4, Geran-4 Seeker jet-powered drone crews struck the vessels, which were involved in delivering military supplies to the Ukrainian armed forces.

Key Claims

  • The Russian Defense Ministry said its forces struck five dry cargo ships involved in delivering military supplies to the Ukrainian army using Geran drones, with strikes occurring at anchor, at the port of Nikolayev, and in the Black Sea operational area.
  • A ministry statement said all designated targets had been hit, reducing the enemy's ability to transport weapons, military equipment, and other military supplies.
  • The ministry reported strikes on a cargo ship and two tugboats at the port of Nikolayev using Geran-4 Seeker drones, confirming the destruction of the cargo ship and the tugboats.
  • A July 22 ministry statement said Geran-4 Seeker drones struck five bulk carriers being used in the interests of the Ukrainian armed forces in the Black Sea and the port of Chernomorsk.
  • A July 16 ministry statement said a vessel in the Black Sea carrying military cargo for the Ukrainian army en route to the port of Chernomorsk was hit by Geran-2 drones.
  • A July 12 ministry statement said a ferry in the port of Chernomorsk was struck by a Geran-4 Seeker UAV to reduce the Ukrainian Armed Forces' ability to transport weapons.