Ukraine had exported about 500,000 tonnes of grain since the start of August, around one-fifth of its potential shipments.

Russia’s Defence Ministry said it struck military targets at the port including a terminal used to unload vessels carrying military cargo.

The attacks targeted the Turkish-owned RoRo cargo ship Nadezhda and the containership Yasar after both vessels departed Novorossiysk.

The tanker Toa Payoh, which is under EU sanctions, was intercepted west of Pantelleria, an Italian island located between Sicily and Tunisia.

The other two injured sailors, both Filipino nationals, remain in the hospital’s intensive care unit and are in stable condition.

Novorossiysk handles up to one-third of Russia’s grain exports and is expected to receive more grain shipments diverted from the Sea of Azov.