Russian Strike on Cargo Vessel Near Odesa Kills 10, Ukrainian Authorities Say
A Russian missile strike hit a civilian cargo vessel flying the flag of Guinea-Bissau while it was in the port area near Odesa, killing 10 people and injuring several others, according to Ukrainian authorities. The attack is one of the deadliest reported strikes on maritime infrastructure in southern Ukraine in recent months.
Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for the Restoration of Ukraine, Oleksii Kuleba, said the vessel was loading grain intended for export when it was struck. He described the ship as a civilian merchant vessel operating under the flag of Guinea-Bissau and emphasized that the attack occurred while it was carrying out commercial operations.
Civilian Crew Among the Victims
According to Ukrainian officials, the attack killed 10 crew members and injured several others. Emergency responders and port services were deployed immediately after the strike to extinguish fires, assist survivors, and assess the damage.
Authorities did not immediately release the nationalities of those killed or provide additional details about the condition of the injured. Rescue operations continued for several hours following the attack.
Attack on Port Infrastructure
The strike also damaged port facilities and equipment used for handling cargo, Ukrainian officials said. Since Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative in 2023, Ukraine’s Black Sea ports have faced repeated missile and drone attacks targeting grain terminals, warehouses, and export infrastructure.
The latest attack comes as Ukraine continues to rely on its maritime export corridor to ship agricultural products to international markets despite ongoing security risks. Port operations remain critical for the country’s economy, with grain exports representing one of Ukraine’s largest sources of foreign currency revenue.
Calls for Greater Maritime Security
Ukrainian officials condemned the strike as another attack on civilian shipping and international trade. They argued that targeting commercial vessels threatens not only Ukraine’s economy but also global food security by disrupting agricultural exports from one of the world’s leading grain producers.
Russian authorities had not commented on the reported strike at the time of publication, and Reuters said it could not independently verify all details provided by Ukrainian officials.
The attack underscores the continuing dangers facing commercial shipping in the Black Sea as the war enters another year, with civilian vessels and port infrastructure remaining vulnerable to long-range missile strikes.
