Russian Missile Attack on Ukraine’s Odesa Port Region Claims Six Lives, According to Governor

A Russian ballistic missile strike on Wednesday targeted the port infrastructure of Ukraine’s southern Odesa region, resulting in the deaths of six individuals and injuries to eight others, according to Odesa Regional Governor Oleh Kiper.

All the injured parties were Ukrainian citizens, with four reported to be in serious condition, Kiper shared via the Telegram messaging app.

In a statement, Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba noted that a container ship registered under the Panama flag, named Shui Spirit, was damaged during the attack.

Kiper expressed concern, stating, “An insidious enemy is trying to disrupt the work of the Ukrainian grain corridor, killing civilians and destroying infrastructure.”

This attack on the port of Chornomorsk marks the third incident in the region within a span of four days. Ukrainian officials revealed that a Russian missile struck a Palau-flagged vessel in Odesa port on Monday, resulting in one Ukrainian fatality and injuries to five foreign nationals. Additionally, on Sunday, a Russian missile caused damage to a civilian ship registered in Saint Kitts and Nevis that was loaded with corn in the Pivdennyi port.

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, a deal mediated by Turkey allowed for the unobstructed transport of cargo from Ukrainian ports for nearly a year before Russia withdrew from the agreement. Since then, vessels have been utilizing an alternative route along Ukraine’s southwestern Black Sea coast, navigating through Romanian waters en route to Turkey.