Ukrainian strikes against Russian shipping continued over the weekend, with two tankers being targeted. One tanker, named Sig, was hit in the Kerch Strait and is currently being towed to a port for repairs. Russia’s Foreign Ministry condemned the strikes as “terrorism” and criticized the lack of international support for their cause. Maria Zakharova, a representative of the Ministry, stated that the Kyiv regime was using new terrorist methods in the Black Sea, and warned that the authors and perpetrators would be punished.

In response to the Ukrainian strikes, Russian forces launched heavy drone and cruise missile attacks on Ukrainian cities. It is reported that around 70 drones and missiles were deployed by Russian aircraft, which operated from a distance over the Caspian Sea. Ukrainian authorities claim to have successfully shot down a significant number of these drones and missiles. The targets of the attacks were airbases in the Khmelnytskyi and Rivne regions. Analysts believe that these strikes were in retaliation for Russia’s previous attacks on grain export infrastructure in Odesa and the Danube River ports.

As a result of the ongoing conflict, Ukraine has issued a notice to mariners warning of a “war risk” area along Russia’s Black Sea coast. This notice affects the internal and external roadsteads at several ports, including Taman, Anapa, Novorossiysk, Gelendzhik, Tuapse, and Sochi. The warning will remain in effect until further notice.

In an assessment of Ukraine’s strike against Russian naval units in Novorossiysk, the UK’s Ministry of Defence reported that the Russian landing ship Olenegorsky Gornyak had suffered serious damage. The vessel was near the Black Sea Fleet’s Novorossiysk base at the time of the strike. Images of the ship listing at a significant angle indicate that multiple watertight compartments were breached. The Olenegorsky Gornyak, weighing 3600 tonnes and measuring 113 meters long, is the largest Russian naval vessel to be severely damaged or destroyed since the sinking of the cruiser Moskva in April 2022. This incident is also concerning for the Russian navy, as Novorossiysk had been considered a safe port.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy suggested that the recent drone attacks on shipping and land targets within Russia indicate a changing trend. He stated that the war is gradually returning to the territory of Russia, targeting symbolic centers and military bases. President Zelenskyy believes that this is a natural and fair process.

The UK’s Ministry of Defence highlighted the curious failure of Russian tactical airpower to have a significant impact on operations. Despite carrying out over 100 sorties a day, Russian aircraft have mostly operated over Russian-controlled territory due to the threat posed by Ukrainian air defenses. Russia has attempted to overcome this issue by using basic free-fall bombs with glide attachments to extend their range. However, the accuracy of these attacks has been inconsistent. Initially, Russian attack helicopters were effective during Ukraine’s southern counter-offensive in June 2023. However, in recent weeks, Russia has struggled to generate effective tactical airpower in the south.

In a surprising disclosure on Russia’s Airborne Forces (VVD) Day, General Colonel Mikhail Teplinsky, the VVD’s Commander-in-Chief, stated that 8500 paratroopers had been wounded but had returned to duty or refused to leave the front lines. The video containing this information was swiftly deleted from official Russian channels. If Teplinsky’s figures are extrapolated, it indicates that at least 50% of the 30,000 paratroopers deployed to Ukraine in 2022 have been killed or wounded.

Yurii Shchyhol, the head of Ukraine’s State Special Communications Service, discussed Russia’s cyber attacks in an interview. He described the attacks as unrelenting, with approximately 20 cyber attacks from Russia each day since February 2022. Successful defense has been attributed to the quick application of lessons learned during the run-up to the war. Ukraine has also benefited from effective cooperation with the private sector, friendly foreign governments, and improved interagency collaboration within the Ukrainian government. Shchyhol believes that sanctions against Russia have been effective and should continue, as they are hampering Russia’s ability to launch attacks.

In a separate incident, Meduza, an independent Russian-language news service, had its flagship podcast “What Happened” temporarily removed from the Apple Podcasts streaming platform. Meduza believes that the removal may have been prompted by a complaint from Russia’s Internet governance authority, Roskomnadzor. However, the ban was short-lived, with the podcast being restored to the platform after two days. Apple did not provide a reason for the temporary removal.

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