Russia intensifies drone attacks on ports – Ukraine

KYIV – Russia has stepped up its targeting ​of Ukrainian port infrastructure this year, Kyiv ‌said on Monday, using more than 800 drones in its attacks in the first four months of 2026, ​more than 10 times the number in ​the same period a year ago.Keeping seaports in the ⁠southern Odesa region open is crucial for ​Ukraine and its wartime economy as exports, mostly ​of grains and small volumes of metal, are key for its hard currency revenues as it seeks to repel ​Russia.Despite the attacks, more than 30 million metric ​tons of cargo have been processed at Ukraine’s ports since ‌the ⁠start of the year, Ukraine’s Infrastructure Minister Oleksii Kuleba said.Ukraine’s southern region has been subject to almost daily Russian attacks in recent months, with ​officials regularly ​reporting damage ⁠to port infrastructure and warehouses.Since the start of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of ​Ukraine in February 2022, Russian strikes ​have damaged ⁠or partially destroyed more than 900 port facilities, including 177 civilian vessels, Kuleba said on the ⁠Telegram ​app.Central bank data showed that ​year-on-year exports of goods from Ukraine rose by only 0.6% in ​March. The post Russia intensifies drone attacks on ports – Ukraine appeared first on Egyptian Gazette.