Civilian Cargo Ship Hits Explosive Device Off Odesa, No Crew Injuries Reported

A civilian vessel was damaged on August 31 after striking an unidentified explosive device in the Black Sea near the port of Chornomorsk, according to Suspilne citing to Ukraine’s Navy.

Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk confirmed in comments to Suspilne and Dumska that the incident involved the Belize-flagged cargo ship NS PRIDE. The vessel was not carrying cargo at the time of the explosion.

Preliminary information suggests that the explosion may have been triggered by an undetonated part of a Russian Shahed drone that had been downed earlier. Local media also reported initial assumptions that drifting naval mines could have been responsible.

The ship sustained minor damage but remains afloat with no water ingress. No injuries were reported among the crew. Pletenchuk noted that the vessel is undergoing inspection and will likely continue its voyage under its own power.

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War in Ukraine

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“The sea remains contaminated with explosive remnants due to Russian actions. It is impossible to predict with certainty where such devices might be located. Our counter-mine forces are working constantly to secure civilian shipping, and without these efforts, such cases would be far more frequent,” Pletenchuk said.

The NS PRIDE, built in 1988, measures 95 meters in length and 16 meters in width, with a carrying capacity of over 3,300 tons. Over the course of its service, the vessel has operated under multiple names.

The Navy stated that the situation is under control and emphasized that measures continue to ensure the safety of navigation in the Black Sea.

Earlier, on August 28, Russian forces carried out the first recorded naval drone strike against a Ukrainian warship in the Danube Delta. According to Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk, the attack damaged the vessel, killed one crew member, and injured several others, while search operations for missing sailors continued.

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