Five Killed in Russian Strike on Cargo Ship off Odesa

Russian forces struck an international cargo vessel in the Black Sea off the coast of Ukraine’s southern city of Odesa, killing at least five crew members, Ukrainian officials said on Sunday.

The Guinea-Bissau-flagged ship had left port loaded with corn and was carrying 17 sailors from India and Syria, in addition to one Ukrainian, Prime Minister Sergii Koretskyi said.

AFP reported that the vessel is owned by a Turkish company.

Eight crew members had been rescued by late Sunday, while five remained missing. The vessel was still burning.

“A civilian ship. An international crew. A route serving global food security. Putin saw another target”, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on X.

(Reuters, sak)