Russian forces attacked a civilian cargo ship in the "Pivdenny" port located in the Odesa region, as reported by the press service of the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine.
The attack took place on the night of October 6.
The Attack damaged the ship "Paresa," which sails under the flag of St. Kitts and Nevis. The vessel was carrying approximately 6,000 tons of Ukrainian corn, scheduled to depart for Italy the following morning.
None of the 15 crew members, which included citizens of Egypt and Syria, were harmed.
The Paresa was docked at one of the port’s moorings at the time of the attack.
Russia has claimed that they targeted military cargo, a common justification for these attacks.
However, photos from the scene clearly show the civilian nature of the cargo on board, adding further evidence of Russia's ongoing efforts to sabotage Ukraine's export capabilities.
The Administration of Sea Ports of Ukraine (AMPU) condemned the attack as part of Russia’s broader "grain terror" campaign, aimed at crippling Ukraine’s vital grain exports and threatening global food security. This incident marks the 20th civilian vessel damaged by Russian forces since the start of the conflict.
In September, a similar attack targeted a ship transporting wheat to Egypt.
Despite the ongoing threats and frequent shelling, Ukraine’s maritime food corridor remains operational.
Since the invasion began, over 70 million tons of cargo, including grain, have been exported from Ukrainian ports to countries in Africa, Asia, and Europe. More than 2,500 ships have successfully left Ukrainian territorial waters, ensuring continued food supply to international markets.
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyi
