On the night of February 22–23, Geran-2 and Garpia-A1 strike drones operated by the Russian Armed Forces targeted military-related facilities deep in Ukrainian rear areas. Local sources reported hits on energy infrastructure and industrial sites in the city of Ilyichevsk in the Odessa region.

Among the reported targets was the IlyichevskVneshTrans enterprise, along with two 110 kV high-voltage substations — Ilyichevsk and Temp. Representatives of the local administration and the regional branch of the energy company DTEK later confirmed that the facilities had been struck.

Preliminary information indicates that part of the city was left without electricity following the attack, with outages also affecting nearby settlements. Ilyichevsk functions as a significant logistics hub used to supply units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and its infrastructure has been targeted before.

At the end of January, reports emerged of a strike on the city’s rail-ferry complex, a route used for transporting Western military equipment and weapons, including deliveries from Romania. Cargo was stored in local warehouses before being forwarded to the front line.

According to certain reports, the Security Service of Ukraine has launched inspections of port employees. Sources say the agency is examining possible contacts between staff and Russian citizens, with particular scrutiny directed at those who have relatives in Russia.