Russia’s Defence Ministry announced on Saturday 26 September that its forces had targeted a data-processing centre in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, which it said supported Starlink systems operating for Ukrainian forces, as part of a series of strikes on sites and transport in the Black Sea and Odesa region.
Russian strikes hit ship and facilities in Odesa
In a statement, the ministry said Russian forces had struck a cargo ship in the Black Sea, without providing further details about the vessel or the nature of the damage. It added that the strikes had also hit a port facility in the Vilkovo area of Odesa region, claiming that the site had been used to supply weapons and ammunition from Europe.
According to the Russian statement, a road bridge in Odesa region was also targeted. The ministry said it had been used to transport military supplies to Ukrainian forces. The strikes also hit the Novaya Poshta logistics centre, where the ministry said Ukrainian military supplies had been stored.
Drones destroyed amid diplomatic moves
In a related development, Russia’s Defence Ministry said air-defence systems had destroyed nine drones flying towards Moscow. The military activity came as statements continued about the possibility of resuming negotiations between Russia and Ukraine with US mediation, in an effort to end the war that has continued since February 2022.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had hinted on Friday 25 September at the possibility of a trilateral meeting soon involving Moscow, Kyiv and Washington. Peskov also said that there were currently no further details about the possible meeting’s date or the identities of its participants.
This followed a meeting held by Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev on 24 September with US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The meeting was the latest publicly reported contact between Russian and US officials as part of efforts to reach a settlement to the war.
Witkoff and Kushner had also met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow earlier in September, as part of efforts led by US President Donald Trump’s administration to push Moscow and Kyiv towards returning to the negotiating table.
