Ukrainian officials stated that on Monday, October 7th, a Russian missile hit a ship in the southern Ukrainian port of Odesa, resulting in the death of one Ukrainian and injuries to five crew members, marking the second similar attack in recent days.
According to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, in a post on the social platform X, “Within just two days, Russian ballistic missiles attacked and damaged two civilian cargo ships in Odesa. Yesterday, a ship carrying corn bound for Italy was hit. Today, another ship was attacked, resulting in one death and five injuries.”
He added, “In early September, a ship was also damaged, indicating a deliberate terrorist strategy.”
Sybiha believes that by targeting civilian ships, Russia is seeking to weaken Ukraine’s economy and putting millions of people globally at risk of hunger.
“We must unite all responsible countries and organizations to stop the aggressors, ensuring freedom of navigation in the Black Sea and global food security,” he wrote.