Russian air defense systems have downed eight Ukrainian drones as Kiev forces increase their unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and missile attacks.
The Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday that Russian forces destroyed four drones over the northwestern part of the Black Sea and Crimea in addition to four more over Russia’s Kursk and Belgorod regions.
The extent of possible damage or casualties caused by falling debris is yet unclear.
The regional governor of Kursk, Roman Starovoyt, said several homes and the roof of an administrative building were damaged “due to an attack by Ukrainian UAVs” in the Central district. No casualties were reported.
Aleksandr Bogomaz, Bryansk’s regional governor, said there were “no casualties or damage” in the region.
Odesa under Russian airstrikes
Meanwhile, Ukraine claimed Odesa had come under Russian drone and missile attack overnight.
The Ukrainian military said on Monday that grain storage facilities were targeted in these attacks.
Russian armed forces “attacked the south of the country again,” Ukrainian Forces of the South reported on Telegram.
The Defense Forces of the South of Ukraine said Russia directed 19 drones and 2 Onyx supersonic missiles at Odesa and fired 12 Kalibr missiles. Russia “hit the port infrastructure” in Odessa, which “suffered significant damage,” they said, adding that most of the projectiles had been shot down.“Onyx missiles destroyed granaries. But people were not hurt.”
“As a result of falling debris” some damage was done, they added.
One Ukrainian official claimed an empty grain store was hit and another said a civilian woman in Odesa was injured by shrapnel “in a blast wave”.
Russia and Ukraine are two major agricultural powers whose supplies are crucial for global food security.
To continue its grain exports that were cut off after Russia’s exit from the UN-mediated grain deal with Turkey, Ukraine is testing a new Black Sea route that avoids international waters and uses those controlled by NATO members Bulgaria and Romania.
According to maritime traffic monitoring sites, the first ship loaded with wheat reached Turkey on Thursday and the second shipment reached Turkey on Sunday. This is despite Russia’s threat to attack ships heading to or from Ukraine.
