Ukraine has reported that two ships were hit by Russian missile strikes in the Black Sea, resulting in casualties and damage.
Targeted Grain Export
According to Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister, the attacks targeted ships at a grain export hub in the Black Sea. While the full extent of the damage has not been detailed, concerns over maritime safety in the region have intensified, according to Ziare.
One of the missile strikes occurred on October 7, when a Palau-flagged ship was hit in the port of Odesa, located in southern Ukraine. The strike tragically killed a Ukrainian port worker and injured five crew members, all foreign nationals.
This was the second attack on a vessel in as many days, further escalating fears about the impact on global food supply chains. Ukrainian officials have called on the international community to step up efforts to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea.
Destabilize Food Security
Moscow has not commented on these specific strikes, and Russia's Ministry of Defense has repeatedly denied targeting civilian vessels.
Oleh Kiper, the governor of the Odesa region, confirmed the details of the latest strike, which also left the foreign crew members injured.
The Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister, Oleksiy Kuleba, condemned Russia's attempts to disrupt maritime transport in the Black Sea, warning that these actions could destabilize food security in vulnerable regions and create further tensions in international relations.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Restoration identified another vessel that was attacked on October 6 near Pivdennyi port. The ship, named Paresa, sails under the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis and was carrying 6,000 metric tons (6,613 U.S. tons) of corn at the time of the attack.
