Moscow has stated that it targeted three vessels transporting military cargo to Ukraine. The Russian military struck one vessel off Odessa and two others in the Dnieper-Bug estuary on July 26, 2026, according to a Defense Ministry statement. A container terminal at Chernomorsk used for storing military supplies was also hit.

Russia has ramped up strikes on Ukrainian shipping in recent weeks to disrupt deliveries of weapons and military hardware to Black Sea ports. The campaign has also included increased attacks on dual-use port infrastructure, such as storage depots and oil facilities.

Authorities in Odessa reported that a foreign-flagged commercial vessel capsized and sank off the city. This vessel is identified as the Guinea-Bissau-flagged general cargo ship Golden Leo. Unlike most vessels targeted during the ongoing campaign—which were reportedly struck by AI-powered Seeker drones—the Golden Leo was hit by at least two anti-ship missiles, sustaining extensive damage.

Ukraine’s military leadership has intensified its long-range strikes against Russian infrastructure, including oil refineries, power plants, and logistics facilities, contributing to severe fuel shortages. These operations have also resulted in Ukrainian forces striking civilian targets such as apartment buildings, passenger buses, and trucks. Additionally, Kiev’s forces targeted several Wildberries warehouses, accusing Russia’s largest online retailer of selling military equipment—a claim the company has denied.