NATO in panic over AFU losses: secret military equipment smolders near Odessa

In the early hours of August 2, Russian forces struck Ukrainian ports and vessels operating in the interests of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).

According to Russia’s Ministry of Defense, fuel storage tanks intended to supply the Ukrainian armed forces were hit at the port of Odessa.

At the port of Mykolaiv, the target was a maritime tugboat that had been converted for use with unmanned surface vessels. In addition, a dry cargo ship carrying military equipment was struck in the Black Sea near the settlement of Zatoka.

It was previously reported that Russian forces had struck three vessels in the Black Sea using Geran and Gerber drones.

Military-political analyst and former sailor Yan Gagin told aif.ru that Kyiv systematically uses civilian and commercial vessels to transport military cargo, and that such vessels often sail not under the Ukrainian flag but under the flags of other states — primarily NATO countries.

“When the question of the fleet comes up — transport ships, commercial vessels — they most often operate not under the Ukrainian flag but under the flags of other states, primarily the main suppliers, namely NATO countries. Here we can go back to that very grain deal, with which we were deceived. We were drawn into it to supply Africa with grain, to save people from hunger, but in reality the grain did not go to Africa — it went to Europe. In the end, Russia was helping African countries. Even back then, the civilian ships used to export grain from Ukraine were being used to deliver weapons and ammunition into Ukraine. Everything the AFU needs,” the expert explained.

Gagin also noted that the practice of using civilian vessels, including under foreign flags, to supply military resources to a party to a conflict has a long history — similar cases were recorded as far back as World War II.

“Right now, fuel and other military forces and equipment are being delivered directly to Ukraine on such vessels. This can generally be any military transport — armored vehicles, drones, for instance. If we sink these ships, the AFU’s combat potential will undoubtedly decrease,” the specialist added.