Kyiv, August 6, 2024 — Russian armed forces struck the civilian merchant vessel Mera Queen in the waters of the Black Sea. As a result of the attack, one crew member — a Ukrainian citizen — was killed, and three other sailors were injured. The ship, carrying Ukrainian wheat, was damaged, and a fire broke out on board.
Incident details
According to RBK-Ukraine, citing Oleksandr Kiper, head of the Odesa Regional State Administration, the attack occurred in the evening of August 5. The target was a bulk carrier flying the flag of Guinea-Bissau, loaded with Ukrainian grain. According to Kiper, the Russian side continues to systematically attack civilian vessels in the Black Sea, creating a direct threat to both the lives of sailors and global food security.
'The enemy is continuously attacking civilian vessels in the Black Sea. Unfortunately, one person was killed, and three others were injured,' Kiper stated.
The ship's crew was promptly evacuated to the shore. The injured are receiving necessary medical assistance. The exact number of injured and their condition are not yet disclosed.
Official confirmation
'Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority' officially confirmed the death of a Ukrainian sailor as a result of the attack on Mera Queen. The agency's statement reads:
'On the evening of August 5, during another Russian attack, the civilian vessel MERA QUEEN flying the flag of Guinea-Bissau was hit. As a result of the attack, a crew member — a Ukrainian citizen — was killed. The other sailors were brought ashore'.
This is not the first case of an attack on civilian vessels carrying Ukrainian grain. Similar incidents were recorded in May and June 2024, but casualties were avoided at that time.
Conflicting data
At the same time, the German publication DW.com reports more severe consequences of the attack: according to their data, six sailors were killed as a result of the strike. This information has not yet been confirmed by Ukrainian authorities or international organizations. It is possible that this refers to different incidents or preliminary, unverified data. At the moment, the Ukrainian side insists on one death and three injured.
Context: food security and naval blockade
The attack on Mera Queen takes place against the backdrop of the ongoing Russian naval blockade of Ukrainian ports. Despite this, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that the country could resume grain exports via the Black Sea, even without security guarantees from Russia or international partners.
'We are ready to resume exports despite the risks. This is a matter of the survival of the Ukrainian economy and supporting global food security,' Sybiha noted in an interview with the media.
Russia, in turn, explains the massive attacks on ports and ships as a 'necessity to protect its interests' and 'countering illegal exports.' However, these statements find no support in the international community, which considers such actions a violation of international maritime law.
International reaction
The UN and the EU expressed concern over the attack on Mera Queen. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on the parties to comply with humanitarian law and ensure the safety of civilian vessels. The European Union emphasized that any attacks on food cargo ships are a crime against humanity.
International organizations, including the World Food Programme (WFP), remind that Ukrainian grain is critical for countries in Africa and the Middle East, where food prices are already rising.
What's next?
Ukraine continues to look for ways to ensure the safety of maritime transport. The possibility of creating an international convoy under the auspices of the UN or NATO is being discussed, but Russia is categorically against such a scenario.
For now, Ukrainian sailors are forced to risk their lives to deliver grain to importing countries. The attack on Mera Queen is yet another reminder that the war has far-reaching consequences that go beyond the theater of military operations.
