Russia killed the captain of a Tanzanian-flagged civilian vessel and wounded three crew members in a drone strike in the Black Sea on 17 September, Ukraine’s Ministry for Restoration, Infrastructure and Transport said.
The ministry said Russia is “systematically attacking Ukrainian ports, port infrastructure and civilian commercial vessels,” threatening both people and international shipping in the Black Sea.
The vessel was heading toward one of Ukraine’s ports when it was attacked. The condition of the ship is still being assessed.
Foreign vessels repeatedly targeted
The latest attack follows a series of Russian strikes on foreign-flagged vessels serving Ukrainian ports.
In July, Russia struck the Turkish-owned bulk carrier GOLDEN LEO with cruise missiles as it left Odesa carrying grain, killing 10 people.
Russia also attacked two foreign-flagged cargo ships with drones in June, killing one sailor and injuring five others as the vessels were leaving Ukrainian ports.
In August, a Russian strike on port infrastructure in Odesa damaged a Togo-flagged civilian vessel and injured four people.
Attacks threaten Ukraine’s maritime trade
The repeated attacks have also disrupted Ukraine’s maritime trade route.
In July, Russian strikes on civilian cargo ships brought traffic through the Black Sea corridor close to a standstill at the height of the harvest, with shipowners temporarily stopping vessels from entering Ukrainian ports.
The Ukrainian ministry called for an international response and coordinated action to strengthen the protection of civilian shipping and the security of international logistics routes.
