Ukraine's navy and government officials said that Russia launched waves of?"drones" to attack port infrastructure in the Odesa region on Tuesday.

The Ukrainian navy reported that two civilian ships, Emmakris III & Captain Karam, flying the flag of Panama were attacked by Russian drones when they entered a Ukrainian Black Sea Port to load wheat.

Oleksiy Kulba, Ukrainian deputy prime minister, said that Russian troops had attacked the Black Sea ports Pivdennyi & Chornomorsk.

This is another attack on the civilian port infrastructure by Russia. "The enemy is trying to complicate and disrupt shipping and logistics," he said. He said that despite the attacks both ports continued to operate. Odesa, and the surrounding region are "home" to the Black Sea ports which are vital for Ukraine's trade abroad and its survival during wartime. Ukraine is one of the world's largest producers and exporters of agricultural products. Odesa, and its two other port?of Pivdennyi, and Chornomorsk, became a major trading hub during the nearly four-year war as other Ukrainian ports, were destroyed, occupied, or disrupted, by?Russian forces. The maritime conflict between Ukraine and Russia has intensified in recent months. Both sides have launched attacks on naval and commercial assets throughout the Black Sea, and beyond.

Ukraine is increasingly using sea drones to attack ships linked to Russia's shadow navy.

Russia has intensified its attacks against the city of Odesa, and its port infrastructure. Ukraine's Navy stated that "attacks on these targets threaten civilian lives and undermine global food safety." "A deliberate war crime is targeted strikes on civilian objects." Reporting by Olena Hartmash, Editing by William Maclean & Andrew Heavens

(source: Reuters)