But Russia’s ramping up of attacks against cargo ships is likely meant to deter foreign companies from buying Ukrainian products and using its Black Sea maritime corridor.
On Sunday, Ukraine’s Prime Minister Serhiy Koretskyi said his government and the military command were “preparing decisions that will enhance the safety of navigation and help protect civilian vessels and seafarers” from Russian attacks.
Despite the constant shelling, Odesa remains a prime holiday destination for Ukrainians.
Governor Oleh Kiper said earlier this month that air raid shelters had been set up in 40 beaches in the region which were open to the public – but warned that seaside locations could be particularly dangerous because drones and missiles are often launched from the sea.
For its part, Ukraine too has ramped up its attacks on Russian assets in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.
On Monday, Ukraine’s drone forces commander Robert Brovdi said 183 vessels had been struck in July. While this figure has not been independently verified, the BBC has seen evidence of damage to numerous vessels in both the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov on satellite.
Elsewhere in the country, Russian strikes killed five people in separate attacks on eastern and southern Ukrainian cities.
According to the UN, June saw the highest number of Ukrainian civilians killed and injured since April 2022. At least 293 civilians were killed and 1,990 injured.
For its part, Kyiv also continued to hit logistics facilities and an oil depot in Russia’s Moscow region. Sergei Sobyanin, the mayor of the Russian capital, said Kyiv had launched 400 drones towards the region overnight on Monday, although most were shot down. Local authorities later said 10 people had been injured as a result.
And local authorities in Russia’s Belgorod border region said a Ukrainian drone strike on a bus had killed five people, including a child, on Monday. Ukraine has not yet commented.
