The Russian military struck three cargo vessels in Ukraine's port of Reni and two other cargo vessels en route to Odesa, Russia's defence ministry said on Tuesday, Reuters reported. Russian forces also hit two logistics hubs in the Volyn region and in the city of Khmelnitskiy, the ministry said, adding that the vessels and hubs were all being used for military purposes. Awaaz Punjab is reporting this as a Russian claim: the ministry's account was not independently verified in the Reuters report, and the report carried no Ukrainian response.

Türkiye's SeaNews, reporting the same Russian defence ministry announcement, said drones targeted cargo ships that Moscow claims were transporting military and dual-use materials to Ukraine — three struck at Reni port on the Danube River, where loading and unloading terminal infrastructure was also damaged, and another hit while en route to Odesa port. SeaNews noted that the names, flags, operators and cargo details of the targeted ships were not disclosed, and that no information was shared about the status of the crews. Its count of the vessels differed from the five in the Reuters account of the ministry statement.

Reni is a Ukrainian port on the Danube River in the Odesa region, while Odesa itself is Ukraine's main Black Sea port — routes that have carried grain and other cargo throughout the war, and whose security has repeatedly been contested by both sides' claims. The European Parliament was also debating Russian drone incursions and strikes on Black Sea shipping on Tuesday, with a resolution due to be voted on Thursday, according to the Parliament's agenda for this week.

In war coverage, strike claims by one side are routinely disputed by the other, and casualty and damage figures often change as more information emerges. Readers should treat the Reni and Odesa vessel claims as Moscow's version of events until Ukrainian authorities or independent reporting confirm what was hit and what damage was done.

Sources: Reuters, 'Russia hits cargo vessels, logistics hubs in Ukraine, Russian defence ministry says', 20 October 2026; SeaNews (Türkiye), 'Russia targets four cargo ships in ongoing Ukraine conflict with UAVs', 20 October 2026; European Parliament agenda, week of 19–25 October 2026.