Russia increases 'risk appetite' with strikes near NATO borders - British intelligence
The British Ministry of Defense tweeted this information, citing intelligence data, according to Ukrinform.
“In the last two weeks, Russia has conducted several waves of strikes against Ukrainian ports on the Danube River using Iranian-produced one-way attack uncrewed aerial vehicles (OWA UAVs). It is highly likely attempting to coerce international shipping into stopping trading via the ports”, the agency said.
It is noted that OWA UAVs have struck targets as close as 200 metres from the Romanian border, suggesting that Russia has evolved its risk appetite for conducting strikes near NATO territory.
“There is a realistic possibility that Russia is using OWA UAVs to strike this area in the belief they are less likely to risk escalation than cruise missiles: Russia likely considers them as acceptably accurate, and they have much smaller warheads than cruise missiles”, the agency added.
As reported, Russia attacked the southern districts of the Odesa region with attack drones. As a result of the attacks by Russian troops, fires broke out at port and industrial infrastructure facilities and an elevator was damaged.
It is noted that the UAVs were launched from the Sea of Azov through the Black Sea.
The military from the Southern Operational Command added that the enemy was trying to destroy the port infrastructure on the Danube, hitting both an elevator and a grain storage facility.
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis condemned Russia's attacks on infrastructure on the Danube in southern Ukraine, calling it a war crime.
