Ukraine-Russia war latest: Moscow strikes cargo ship in Black Sea after Zelensky calls for talks to stop attacks

Russian forces have carried out a series of strikes targeting critical infrastructure and maritime assets in Ukraine. According to reports from The Independent, Moscow has struck a cargo ship located in the Black Sea. This maritime attack occurred shortly after President Zelensky called for talks aimed at stopping these types of attacks. Simultaneously, coverage from Ukrinform reports that Russian forces launched a combined attack targeting energy infrastructure and food warehouses specifically within the Odesa region. The scale of the strikes has resulted in significant fire, with Ukrainska Pravda reporting that two DIY superstores are currently ablaze in Odesa following the assault. Various media outlets are detailing the specific targets of the Russian military operation.

News CGTN, citing Russian media and the Ministry of Defense, reports that the Russian Armed Forces struck the PS-330 "Adjalik" substation. This particular facility is critical as it provides power to the "Yuzhny" port. Furthermore, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that five fuel tanks utilized by the Ukrainian Armed Forces were also targeted during the operation. This emphasis on energy and fuel logistics is mirrored in the reporting from Ukrinform, which highlights the combined nature of the attacks on both food storage and power systems. Contextual reporting from خبرگزاری اطلس indicates a broader scale of conflict beyond the Odesa strikes. Russia has claimed to have struck Ukrainian military infrastructure on a wider scale and asserts that its forces have downed 1,120 drones.

This high volume of drone activity suggests an intense period of aerial engagement. The timing of these strikes is particularly significant because they follow a public appeal from President Zelensky for diplomatic discussions to halt the targeting of shipping and infrastructure, illustrating a disconnect between the diplomatic requests and the kinetic reality on the ground. Future developments to monitor include the status of the Odesa region's power supply following the hit to the PS-330 "Adjalik" substation and the "Yuzhny" port. Coverage will likely focus on whether the fires at the DIY superstores are contained and the extent of the damage to the food warehouses mentioned by Ukrinform. Additionally, observers will be watching for any official response or further diplomatic movement following the striking of the cargo ship in the Black Sea despite the calls for talks to stop such attacks.