The attack on the Mera Queen is part of an intense Russian campaign to disrupt Ukraine's maritime exports, as Kyiv retaliates with massive drone strikes on Russian logistics infrastructure.
Russian forces carried out an attack on the cargo ship Mera Queen, flying the flag of Guinea-Bissau and carrying grain from the Ukrainian port of Odesa, on the night from Wednesday to Thursday. One crew member was killed and a fire broke out on board, confirmed Oleh Kiper, the governor of the Odesa region.
The Administration of Ukrainian Seaports confirmed that the vessel was carrying grain intended for export. Russia's Ministry of Defense acknowledged attacks on two vessels near Odesa but did not specify the targets. The incident occurred on Wednesday evening in the Black Sea and was reported on August 6, 2026.
The attack on the Mera Queen is not an isolated incident but part of a systematic Russian offensive against Ukraine's maritime routes. For over a month, Russian forces have been bombarding ports and infrastructure in the Black Sea almost daily, aiming to disrupt grain exports, which are a key source of revenue for Kyiv.
This escalation comes more than four years after the start of the full-scale invasion and shows how both sides are increasingly targeting each other's economic assets.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has carried out one of the largest drone attacks on Russian territory since the start of the war. Russia's Ministry of Defense reported that it shot down more than 600 Ukrainian drones overnight, the highest number since the invasion began. According to some sources, the number of downed aircraft reached 605, intercepted over more than 20 Russian regions and annexed Crimea.
The Yaroslavl region was particularly hard hit, where the governor confirmed the downing of 92 drones. Debris from the aircraft caused fires in several residential buildings and damaged vehicles, but there were no reports of casualties.
Among the targets of Ukrainian strikes was again Wildberries, the Russian e-commerce giant. According to authorities in the Tver region, drone debris damaged the facade of one of the company's logistics centers, but without casualties. Since mid-July 2026, Ukraine has repeatedly targeted Wildberries' logistics network, considering it strategic due to its role in distributing goods across Russia.
This dual escalation shows how the war is increasingly taking on an economic dimension: Russia is trying to choke off Ukrainian exports via the Black Sea, while Kyiv responds with attacks on logistics centers and distribution networks hundreds of kilometers from the front lines. Although there is no direct connection to Croatia, the continuation of such attacks could affect global grain prices and security stability in Europe.
