Splash247: Ukraine targets Caspian port in strike on Russian drone supply chain

Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces have struck the Russian port of Olya in the Astrakhan region, destroying a vessel loaded with components for Iranian-made Shahed drones and ammunition.

The attack, carried out on August 14 in coordination with other elements of Ukraine’s Defense Forces, hit the Port Olya 4, a general cargo ship, while it was moored at the Caspian Sea facility. 

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine described the port as a “vital logistics hub” for moving Iranian military goods into Russia, bypassing traditional supply chains disrupted by sanctions and wartime blockades.

Olya, located in southern Russia with direct maritime links to Iranian ports, has become a critical artery for Russia’s drone and ammunition imports. Ukrainian officials said the strike was aimed at reducing Russia’s capacity to launch aerial attacks, particularly those involving Shahed-type kamikaze drones that have been used extensively against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.

The exact extent of the damage from the port strike is still being assessed, but Ukrainian sources confirmed the targeted vessel was destroyed. 

The move comes amid a broader campaign by Kyiv to disrupt Russian logistics and fuel supplies: in the past 48 hours, Ukrainian forces have also hit oil refineries in Syzran and Volgograd.