Russia Claims Drone Strikes on Nova Poshta Hub and Cargo Ship as Part of Retaliatory Campaign
Russia’s Defence Ministry says a Nova Poshta logistics center in Rivne and a cargo ship east of Odesa were hit in a nighttime drone attack on Ukrainian logistics and ports, while the Kremlin describes continuing strikes meant to weaken Kyiv’s military potential.
Russia is again targeting Ukraine’s logistics networks and Black Sea approaches with drones, while publicly framing the strikes as part of a campaign to wear down Kyiv’s ability to fight.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said that during nighttime operations its drones hit Ukrainian military logistics centers and ports. The statement highlighted a strike on a Nova Poshta logistics center in the town of Rivne, described as being used to store and distribute dual‑use goods, including components for long‑ and medium‑range drones.
The ministry also claimed a cargo ship carrying military and dual‑use goods was hit about 30 kilometers east of the port of Odesa. No independent details on the ship’s flag or ownership were provided in the material available here.
Separately, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia is continuing retaliatory strikes against Ukraine to reduce Kyiv’s military potential.
On the Ukrainian side, the General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces struck three Russian military targets between 17 and 18 October. According to that statement, they hit an attack‑drone storage and launch site near occupied Donetsk, a vehicle and armored vehicle repair base near Sukhodilsk in occupied Luhansk, and a troop concentration near Dubove.
Ukrainian sources also reported that a Russian BM‑30 "Smerch" multiple‑launch rocket system used to strike civilians in Mykolaiv and Kherson was located and destroyed. Lasar’s Group said it analyzed the system’s behavior and then ambushed it with a bomber drone.
In a separate assessment, Ukrainian monitoring project єРадар reported that Russia has delivered around 500 Geran drones, both gasoline‑ and jet‑powered, to locations across its territory. The group expects increased use of these drones against western regions of Ukraine.
Taken together, the reports point to intensifying attacks on logistics hubs, repair bases and transport corridors on both sides of the front. They also show Russia building up stocks of strike drones it can employ against Ukrainian infrastructure well behind the lines.
Key developments to watch are confirmed damage reports from the Nova Poshta center and the cargo ship east of Odesa, evidence of expanded Geran drone use over western Ukraine, and further Ukrainian strikes on Russian depots and repair sites in occupied territory.
Sources
- OSINT