Ukraine: More than 100 ships are waiting
The Ukrainian Ministry of Infrastructure announced that the country's ships were being held in the strait by Russian inspection teams. The Ukrainian Ministry of Infrastructure announced that a total of 99 ships were being held, including 73 ships heading to Ukrainian ports for loading and 22 ships heading to Africa, Asia and Europe. According to the statement, 9 grain-loaded ships set off from the Port of Odessa in the last two days. Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that three Russian soldiers were killed in a drone attack carried out by Ukraine on a military air base in southern Russia where strategic bombers are located. The Tass news agency, citing the ministry, reported that no aircraft were damaged. This attack marked the second time this month that Russia's Engels air base in the Saratov region has been hit. Russia retaliated against Ukraine in early December by launching air and sea-launched missiles at Ukraine's energy and communications infrastructure.