Russians hit two civilian cargo ships, Ukraine reports

Russia attacked two civilian cargo ships off the southern Ukrainian coast in the Odessa region with drones. One Syrian citizen was killed in the attack and another was injured, Ukrainian officials said on Friday.

According to them, one of the ships was flying the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis and was heading to the port of Chornomorsk, where it was to pick up a cargo of grain. The second, designated Wael K, was located near the port of Odessa, flying the flag of the Comoros Islands and carrying soybeans.

According to Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba, these were deliberate attacks on civilian shipping and food logistics. He also published photos of the vessels Ladonna and Wael K, which were the targets of the attack.

The ports of Odessa are key to the export of Ukrainian commodities. According to data from the Ukrainian Maritime Ports Authority, the number of Russian attacks on ports in this area has almost tripled year-on-year, reaching 96 last year.

(reuters, max)