The Russian Transport Ministry has formed a special headquarters to develop alternative logistics routes and redirect cargo flows in the Azov-Black Sea basin, following enemy drone attacks on maritime vessels in the Sea of Azov.
Ukraine's Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko resigned Sunday, with reports suggesting she will become Kyiv's ambassador to the US. President Zelenskyy announced broader changes in law enforcement and a "political strategy" shift. Meanwhile, a Ukrainian drone attack hit Russia's Syzran oil refinery, killing one, and Russia suspended shipping in the Sea of Azov due to drone activity.
Russia's Defence Ministry reported intercepting 660 Ukrainian drones across 12 Russian regions, Crimea, the Black Sea, and the Azov Sea in a major nighttime attack. Following these increasing aerial assaults, Moscow-installed governor Sergey Aksyonov declared a regional-level emergency situation in Crimea and Sevastopol.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported an attempted seizure of a product tanker off the coast of Yemen. A skiff with five armed individuals approached the vessel, prompting the tanker to perform evasive maneuvers and change course.
Don State Technical University has developed a new unmanned surface vessel with a rigid sail for environmental monitoring in shallow coastal waters. The drone utilizes wind power for propulsion, reducing fuel consumption and emissions, and will be tested in the Sea of Azov.
Global events include rising death tolls in Lebanon from Israeli attacks, drone strikes on Moscow, US-Iran tensions over nuclear facilities and Hormuz, and a WHO public health emergency over Ebola in Africa. Russia reports military gains and downs numerous Ukrainian drones.
Ukraine launched a massive drone attack on 14 Russian regions, including Moscow, killing at least four people. Russian authorities reported shooting down hundreds of drones, while Ukraine stated the strikes were retaliation for recent Russian attacks.
UN Human Rights spokesperson Jeremy Laurence stated that commercial vessels are protected under international humanitarian law and their crews cannot be deliberately targeted, following Ukraine's drone attack on the Volgo-Balt-138 dry cargo vessel in the Azov Sea on April 3. The vessel loaded with wheat sank, resulting in three crew members killed and nine survivors. Kherson Region governor Vladimir Saldo warned the attack would not remain unanswered.
