Vessel Carrying Ukrainian Corn Sinks in the Black Sea After Russian Missile Strike

The incident was reported by Oleh Kiper, Head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration.

According to Kiper, the vessel was attacked on 19 July shortly after departing the port, where it had loaded Ukrainian agricultural products. After being damaged in the strike, the vessel sustained severe damage and later sank.

«Regrettably, nine crew members and a Ukrainian pilot were killed as a result of the enemy attack. Another eight crew members were successfully evacuated. At the time the vessel sank, there was no crew remaining on board,» Oleh Kiper said.

In addition, on 25 July, hostile unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) twice struck another civilian merchant vessel sailing under the flag of Palau while transporting a cargo of corn.

«During the first strike, damage was recorded to the upper deck and the cargo hold. Following the second strike, a fire broke out in the vessel’s superstructure,» the head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration added.

According to preliminary information, seven people were injured. The crew and the pilot were evacuated ashore, while two people remain missing, and search operations are ongoing.