On 14 October, Russian forces attacked the port of Odesa, damaging two civilian ships and port infrastructure. This is the fourth attack against ports since 5 Oct.
According to Odesa Oblast officials, Russian forces launched a missile attack on the port of Odesa, damaging two civilian vessels as well as port infrastructure on 14 October. The attack resulted in the death of one civilian and eight injuries. It hit the NS Moon flying the Belize flag and the Optima Dry Cargo vessel flying the Palau banner, as well as a warehouse.
This is the latest of a series attacks on Ukrainian ports that began on 5 October. The Institute for the Study of War believes that these attacks are a part of a larger Russian campaign to undermine Ukraine’s grain pipeline, erode international support for the nation, and push Ukraine into premature talks with Russia.
Officials said that the Optima was already damaged in a previous attack on 7 October. Ukrainian sources also reported Russian attacks on civilian vessels docked in the port of Odesa between 5-6 October and on 9 October.
The ISW noted Russian military bloggers’ responses to these attacks, which supported existing Kremlin narratives. These bloggers have called for more Russian strikes against Ukrainian grain facilities, civilian vessels in Ukrainian ports, as well as other targets that would reduce Ukraine’s economic power.
ISW has recently stated that such Russian attacks against civilian vessels and other grain-corridor infrastructure are “almost certain intended to undermine Western confidence about Ukraine’s capability to enforce and defend this corridor, influence ongoing Western conversations about long-term Western support for Ukraine, as well as impede Ukraine’s economic survival during the war.”
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