Russian strikes hit Odesa port facilities and a Romania border crossing

Russian forces launched overnight attacks on Ukraine's southern Black Sea region, striking port export infrastructure in the Odesa area and a ferry checkpoint at Orlivka on the border with Romania. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the operation deliberately damaged the border crossing and export facilities. Ukrainian emergency services reported collateral damage to energy infrastructure and a blaze at a residential building that injured one person.

The attacks come amid a recent escalation of Russian drone strikes that have effectively shut down the main seaports, which previously handled the bulk of Ukraine's exports. Consequently, Kyiv has been forced to shift cargo to lower-capacity Danube river ports such as Reni and Izmail, as well as to western rail crossings. The Ukrainian border service announced a temporary suspension of processing at the Orlivka checkpoint. Despite the disruptions, state railway operator Ukrzaliznytsia said it is increasing grain shipments to the Danube ports to sustain future export volumes.