Ukraine accuses Russia of launching missiles at cargo ships

Ukraine's military says Russia fired an anti-radar missile that hit a civilian cargo ship docking at a port in Odessa province.

"The enemy silently launched a Kh-31P anti-radar missile from a tactical aircraft in the Black Sea towards one of the ports in Odessa province," the Ukrainian military announced on November 8. "The missile hit a Liberian-flagged cargo ship as it entered the port."

According to the Ukrainian military, the attack killed a pilot at the port. Three crew members of the cargo ship and a port worker were injured.

Damage to a cargo ship suspected of being hit by a Russian missile on November 8. Photo: Reuters

Russia has stepped up its attacks on Ukraine’s coastal infrastructure after withdrawing from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, a deal signed in July 2022 that facilitated the export of Ukrainian grain and some Russian agricultural products.

The Russian Defense Ministry has warned that any cargo ship arriving at Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea region will be “treated as a military cargo vehicle” by the country’s military. A Russian warship once fired warning shots at a cargo ship in the Black Sea after the captain failed to respond to requests to stop for inspection.

Ukraine has announced the opening of a new corridor for civilian cargo ships along the western shore of the Black Sea, passing through the territorial waters of NATO members Romania and Bulgaria. Several foreign cargo ships have arrived and departed from Ukrainian ports along this route without any problems.

Location of Odessa region. Graphics: RYV

Nguyen Tien (According to AFP )

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