ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Ukrainian armed forces on Wednesday announced they had thwarted an overnight Russian drone attack, intercepting 13 Iranian-made UAVs shot towards the country.
The Shahed-136/131 drones were reportedly launched from southeastern Russia and targeted the Black Sea port of Odessa, according to a statement from the air forces of the Ukrainian armed forces.
The strike caused damage to the port’s warehouses and granaries, but did not result in any deaths or injuries, Odessa region Governor Oleh Kiper wrote on Telegram.
“The main goal [of the drone strikes] is port and grain infrastructure in the south of the region,” he added.
Ukraine’s long-awaited counteroffensive to push back Russian forces from areas occupied by them is underway. Russia says the counteroffensive has not resulted in any success, but Ukraine has maintained strict silence to prevent any information from being leaked.
In response, Russia has been targeting Odessa and the region's grain storage facilities after refusing to extend a crucial Black Sea grain deal that permitted Ukrainian exports.
Iranian-made Shahed-136/131 drones have been repeatedly used by Russia in its attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, leading to a barrage of international sanctions and condemnations on Iran. Tehran said the drones it sent to Russia preceded the war in Ukraine, which broke out in February last year.
