16:41 07-04-2026

Vilkovo Strike Linked to Azov Sea Drone Attack Incident

A strike on Vilkovo in the Odessa region may be linked to a Ukrainian drone attack on a cargo ship in the Sea of Azov that killed three crew members.

A strike carried out by the Russian Armed Forces on military facilities in Vilkovo, in the Odessa region, on the night of April 6–7 may have been a response to a Ukrainian drone attack on a cargo vessel in the Sea of Azov that left three people dead. This assessment was offered by military expert and retired first-rank captain Vasily Dandykin.

According to military sources, the Danube port of Vilkovo was hit by several waves of Russian Geran drones during the night.

Dandykin suggested that after the incident in the Sea of Azov, where a grain carrier was sunk and lives were lost, Russian forces could extend strikes to any vessels located in Odessa region ports. In his view, the response could be carried out decisively, without regard for external reactions.

He also emphasized the strategic importance of ports in the Odessa region, describing them as a key hub for the delivery of weapons and ammunition to Ukrainian forces from NATO countries. In addition, he indicated that the strikes may target other types of cargo, including hydrocarbons and fuel.

On April 3, a Ukrainian drone struck the cargo ship Volgo-Balt 138 in the Sea of Azov, causing it to sink. The vessel had been transporting around 3,000 tons of wheat from the port of Azov in the Rostov region to the port of Kavkaz in the Krasnodar region. Three crew members were killed in the attack.