Introduction

Russia conducted a 3 1/2-hour drone attack on the southern parts of the Odesa region early on Sunday, targeting a crucial infrastructure at a Danube River port and causing injuries to at least two individuals, according to Kyiv.

Ukraine’s Air Defense

Ukraine’s Air Force announced on the Telegram messaging app that their air defense systems successfully intercepted and shot down 22 out of the 25 drones of Iranian origin launched by Russia on Odesa during the early hours of Sunday.

Civilian Injuries

The South Military Command of Ukraine shared on social media that the attack targeted the “civil infrastructure of the Danube,” resulting in injuries to at least two civilians in the area.

Importance of the Danube

Since the collapse of a U.N.-brokered deal in July, the Danube has emerged as Ukraine’s primary route for exporting grain via maritime transport. This attack poses significant threats to Ukraine’s grain export capability.

Port Facility Hit

Although specific details regarding the targeted port facility were not disclosed, the military assured that the fire resulting from the attack was promptly extinguished.

Speculations on the Target

Some Ukrainian media outlets speculated that the Reni port, one of the two major ports operated by Ukraine on the Danube, experienced the blasts. However, no official confirmation or comments have been released by Russia.

Verification

As of now, Reuters has been unable to independently verify the reports and claims made regarding the drone attack.