Two Grain Ships Damaged By Russian Missiles In The Black Sea, 1 Dead & 5 Injured

Russian missiles have attacked two-grain ships over two days, killing one Ukrainian worker and injuring five crew members in the Black Sea.

The attacks targeted the southern port of Odesa, where the Palau-flagged vessel Optima was hit on October 7, 2024, killing a Ukrainian national and injuring foreign crew members.

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba verified that the vessel had just arrived in Odesa before the attack, but no specific details were provided about its cargo.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, criticized Russia’s continuous targeting of grain export hubs on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), saying that the incidents demand a coordinated global response to safeguard navigation and maintain global food security.

Odesa Regional Governor Oleh Kiper confirmed on the Telegram messaging app that the victim was a port worker, while the injured were foreign crew members of the Optima.

The latest attack follows a similar attack on October 6, when another grain vessel, the Saint Kitts and Nevis-flagged Paresa, carrying 6,000 tonnes of corn, was damaged in the port of Pivdennyi.

The vessel’s 15-member crew, comprising Egyptian and Syrian nationals, escaped unharmed.

Per Ukraine’s Ministry of Restoration, the Paresa is the 20th civilian ship damaged by the Russian forces in the ongoing conflict, which began with the full-scale invasion in February 2022.

The Saint Kitts and Nevis-flagged bulk carrier Aya was damaged by a Russian missile in the Black Sea last month. Another vessel, an Antigua-flagged carrier, was damaged by a Russian missile strike in Odesa.

The attacks on Ukraine’s grain exports have increased in recent months, with Russian attacks frequently targeting the Danube and Odesa.

Despite these attacks, Ukraine’s export volumes have remained stable. However, traders have used more expensive alternate routes to avoid the disruption.

Russia has repeatedly denied targeting civilian infrastructure, and the defense ministry did not respond to any requests for comment.

However, the ongoing strikes, including a ballistic missile attack on a ship in neutral waters last month, continue to disrupt global grain supplies and worsen instability in regions relying on Ukrainian exports.

Per a Ukrainian Navy spokesperson, the Pivdennyi port was operating normally as of October 8.

Reference: Reuters, Bloomberg

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