Russia hit two grain-loaded ships under Palau and Barbados flags in Odesa port overnight — grain bunker and administrative buildings also damaged

Mar 20, 2026 - 10:03

Russia struck Odesa port with drones overnight on 20 March, damaging two grain-loaded civilian ships and a grain bunker, while separate attacks killed two women — one in Zaporizhzhia district and one in a humanitarian evacuation car near the frontline in Donetsk Oblast — regional officials reported.

Russia's nightly drone campaign against Ukraine has intensified in 2026, targeting residential neighborhoods, civilian infrastructure, energy systems, railway and port facilities.

Two grain ships struck in Odesa port

Russia struck two civilian commercial vessels moored at the berths and loaded with grain. The ships fly the flags of Palau and Barbados and remain afloat, Odesa Oblast head Oleh Kiper and Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba reported. Two people were injured and received medical assistance. A grain bunker, port equipment, and administrative buildings were also damaged. Fires were extinguished promptly. Ukraine's Sea Ports Administration confirmed the port continues operating under security restrictions.

russia hit two grain-loaded ships under palau barbados flags odesa port overnight — grain bunker administrative buildings also damaged · post aftermath russia's drone attack infrastructure oblast 20 2026 атака — Aftermath of Russia's drone attack on port infrastructure in Odesa Oblast. 20 March 2026. Photo: Oleksii Kuleba / Telegram

Russia has repeatedly struck foreign-flagged civilian grain ships in Odesa port throughout 2026. In January, Russian strikes killed a Syrian crew member on a vessel near Odesa. Russian port strikes have cut Ukraine's monthly maritime exports by up to 30%.

Woman killed in Zaporizhzhia district

Russia conducted two strikes on the Zaporizhzhia district, destroying private homes, Oblast head Ivan Fedorov reported. Russian forces killed a 30-year-old woman. A 48-year-old man and a 10-year-old boy were wounded.

Russia killed an elderly passenger in a Proliska evacuation car near the frontline

At approximately 07:50 on 20 March, a Russian drone struck a Proliska humanitarian mission vehicle in Oleksiievo-Druzhkivka, Donetsk Oblast, mission head Yevhen Kaplin reported. The car was evacuating four elderly civilians from Druzhkivka and Oleksiievo-Druzhkivka — three women over 70 and a man over 60.

Russia killed a woman seated in the passenger seat instantly. A second woman seated next to her was critically wounded and is in intensive care at a nearby field hospital, Kaplin told Suspilne. Kaplin noted that the drone operators could clearly see the vehicle was non-military.

Drone near school in Kharkiv, no injuries

Russia struck Kharkiv's Shevchenkivskyi district overnight. A drone hit near an educational institution, blowing out windows, Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported. Oblast Military Administration head Oleh Synehubov said no information about casualties had been received.

russia hit two grain-loaded ships under palau barbados flags odesa port overnight — grain bunker administrative buildings also damaged · post shrapnel damage building shevchenkivskyi district kharkiv 25 2025 holr — Shrapnel damage to a building in Shevchenkivskyi district, Kharkiv. 25 January 2025. Photo: Oleksandr Stavytskyi / Suspilne Kharkiv

Air Force: 156 drones launched, 133 shot down

Last night, Russia launched 156 strike drones — Shahed, Gerbera, and Italmas types — from Bryansk, Oryol, Kursk, Shatalovo, Millerovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia, and occupied Crimea, the Air Force reported at 08:00 on 20 March. About 90 were Shaheds. Air defense forces shot down or suppressed 133. Nineteen drones struck 13 locations, debris fell on seven more.