Ukrainian drones struck 20 Russian vessels in the Black Sea overnight, including 17 oil tankers, according to the commander of Kyiv's Unmanned Systems Forces.
Robert Brovdi said on Telegram that the targets also included two gas tankers and one tugboat.
Meanwhile, Russia's armed forces said they continued overnight attacks on Ukrainian ports handling cargo for the Ukrainian military, claiming to have struck four vessels.
The Russian Defence Ministry said targets in the ports of Odesa and Chornomorsk in Ukraine's Odesa region were attacked using air-launched precision-guided weapons and strike drones.
According to Moscow, the strikes hit port infrastructure used for unloading fuel and lubricants, as well as fuel storage facilities.
The ministry added that four ships carrying cargo intended for Ukraine's armed forces were hit at the ports of Chornomorsk and Dnipro-Buh.
Von der Leyen in Kyiv
Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday, where she said she would announce new measures aimed at deepening cooperation between the European and Ukrainian defence industries. "I will announce new initiatives to integrate our defence industries, so that we can produce more and faster," she wrote on X upon her arrival.
Report on EU Defence Funding
The Financial Times reported on Wednesday that Ukraine will be permitted to use part of an EU defence loan to purchase Chinese drone components.
According to the newspaper, Kyiv secured an exemption allowing part of a €6 billion funding tranche to be used for acquiring drone parts from China.
The report cited individuals familiar with the decision.
Reuters said it was unable to independently verify the information.
