Russia attacked civilian vessels in the Black Sea: there are dead and wounded.

According to ТСН: Russian forces have once again attacked civilian shipping in the Ukrainian maritime corridor, resulting in two vessels under foreign flags being damaged, with casualties among the crew.

Comments from government representatives

This was reported by the Deputy Prime Minister for the Restoration of Ukraine, Oleksiy Kuleba.

“This is further evidence that Russia is deliberately targeting civilian objects, international shipping, and food logistics. This is a horrific war crime!”

According to him, a Russian strike drone hit a vessel flying the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis while it was heading for grain. The vessel has maintained seaworthiness and is heading to the nearest port.

“Near the port of Odessa, a vessel under the flag of the Comoros, which was carrying soy, was also struck. Unfortunately, there is a dead crew member — a citizen of Syria.”

Kuleba noted that rescue units were promptly dispatched to the impact sites; assistance to victims is currently underway, and the extent of the damage is being assessed. Despite ongoing shelling, Ukraine continues to take measures to ensure the safety of shipping and fulfill export commitments.

Previous attacks on Odessa

It should be noted that on New Year's Eve, Odessa experienced several waves of attacks by Russian drones. As a result of the drones falling and their debris, residential buildings were damaged and fires broke out at infrastructure facilities.

It was previously reported that Russia has turned Odessa into a key theater of economic warfare, attempting to block Ukraine's maritime exports, which account for 90% of agricultural supplies. At the same time, during the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to US President Biden, the Kremlin increased the number of drone attacks on port infrastructure to record levels.

Recent attacks on vessels under foreign flags threaten international trade and food security. These incidents once again demonstrate that maritime security is critically important not only for Ukraine but also for many other countries that depend on Ukrainian agricultural exports. The situation remains tense, and the international community continues to monitor developments.