Russian strike drones have hit the southern part of the Odesa region and the waters of the Black Sea. As a result of the attack, two civilian cargo ships were damaged, as well as objects on land.
Vessels under the flags of Panama and Barbados damaged
Information about the incident was confirmed by the Administration of Sea Ports of Ukraine (ASPU) and the Odesa Regional Military Administration. According to the department, two merchant vessels were damaged: one under the flag of Panama, the other under the flag of Barbados.
The fate of the ships was different at the moment of the attack: one of the ships was heading to the port of Great Odesa to load metal, while the second was leaving the Ukrainian port with a shipment of wheat on board.
Fire on board and no casualties
As a result of the hit, a fire broke out on one of the ships. The crew managed to cope with the fire on their own and extinguish the fire. Despite the damage sustained, both ships continued their journey and did not withdraw from the voyage.
Head of the Odesa Regional State Administration Oleksandr Kiper reported that the relevant services are already working at the sites of the hits to eliminate the consequences of the attack. Fortunately, at the moment there are no dead or wounded among the civilian population and the crews.
Series of attacks on maritime routes
This incident is not an isolated case in the series of attacks on shipping in the region. Russian forces regularly strike maritime objects, which creates a threat to international trade and logistics.
In particular, on May 29, Russian occupiers attacked a ship sailing from one of the ports of the Odesa region to Turkey. Then, as a result of the strike, crew members were injured. Earlier, on the night of May 18, a Chinese merchant ship was attacked in the territorial waters of Ukraine. Back in late April, a bulk carrier under the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis, moving along the maritime corridor to load grain, was also shelled; a fire broke out on it and the navigation failed.