Russian Strike on Foreign Commercial Ship in Odesa Kills Three Sailors

Three foreign crew members were killed and five others injured after a Russian strike hit a civilian commercial vessel unloading mineral fertilizers at a Ukrainian port in the Odesa region on July 13, according to Ukraine’s Ministry for Communities and Territories Development.

The vessel, sailing under the flag of Togo, was struck while docked in port. Ukrainian officials said the attack hit the ship’s superstructure, triggering a fire.

According to Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration and Minister for Communities and Territories Development Oleksii Kuleba, the vessel was unloading mineral fertilizers when it came under Russian attack.

“The attack hit the ship’s superstructure, causing a fire,” Kuleba said in a statement published on July 13.

The ministry confirmed that three crew members were killed and five others sustained injuries. All of the wounded were hospitalized and are receiving medical treatment. According to the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (USPA), the strike also damaged port infrastructure and nearby civilian facilities.

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War in Ukraine

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“This is another Russian attack on Ukraine’s civilian shipping and port infrastructure. Such attacks threaten the safety of international navigation, the stability of global trade, and the world’s food security,” Kuleba said.

According to Ukrainian news agency UNIAN, citing Odesa regional prosecutors, the dead and injured crew members are citizens of Egypt and Syria. Authorities said the identities of all victims are being verified.

The USPA said six people have been killed in recent Russian attacks targeting ports in the Odesa region, including port workers, truck drivers, and seafarers.

On June 22, Russia attacked the Turkish-owned cargo vessel VICTRESS, sailing under the Panamanian flag. One crew member was killed and eight others were evacuated after a fire broke out on board. During the same attack, vessels sailing under the flags of Palau and Belize were also damaged.

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