Russia has launched strikes on multiple targets in two Ukrainian port cities, retaliating against an earlier attack on a bridge connecting Crimea to the Russian mainland, which Russia blamed on Kyiv. The Russian Defense Ministry stated that the strikes hit production facilities near Odesa, used for building seaborne attack drones, as well as fuel depots in Odesa and the nearby city of Mykolaiv. The ministry claimed that all designated targets were destroyed. Although infrastructure and homes in Odesa were damaged, there were no reported casualties from the Russian barrage.
Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine’s presidential staff, argued that Russia’s strikes on the seaports proved its intent to endanger food exports relied upon by 400 million people. Russia withdrew from a grain export agreement with Ukraine on July 17, citing the failure of Kyiv and its Western allies to comply with the deal’s key provisions. Prior to Russia’s withdrawal, the Kerch Bridge was targeted in an explosion that killed two people and damaged a section of the roadway. Russia promptly blamed Ukraine for the “terrorist attack,” although Kyiv did not claim responsibility. The Russian side stated that the bridge attack and the decision to withdraw from the grain deal were unrelated.
Last year, the same bridge was damaged by a massive explosion, and although Kyiv did not assume responsibility for that attack, Ukraine’s deputy defense minister recently suggested their involvement. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 following a controversial referendum.
The United Kingdom dismissed Moscow’s allegations that British intelligence agencies may have been involved in the attack on the bridge, calling it baseless speculation. Dmitry Polyansky, Moscow’s deputy envoy to the UN, raised suspicions that British intelligence was implicated in the attack. However, no evidence was provided to support the claims. Moscow has previously made similar claims, including linkages of British involvement to attacks on the Crimean port of Sevastopol and the Nord Stream pipelines.
The Russian Defense Ministry also claimed to have thwarted a new round of drone attacks on targets in Crimea. The ministry stated that 28 aerial drones were involved in the attack, but no human or material damage was reported. Russian air defenses shot down 17 drones, while the rest were neutralized using electronic countermeasures. The Epoch Times was unable to independently verify the ministry’s claims.