Russia has attacked two more civilian ships carrying food products in the Black Sea, Ukrainian officials said on Monday, reinforcing Kyiv’s claims that Moscow is deliberately targeting maritime trade to disrupt Ukraine’s exports.
According to Ukraine’s Regional Development Minister Oleksiy Kuleba, the attacks caused a fire aboard one vessel and left a crew member injured. Writing on Telegram, Kuleba said the strikes were carried out by Russian drones.
“An enemy drone struck a Panamanian-flagged tanker that was waiting to enter port to load vegetable oil. Unfortunately, one crew member was wounded,” he said.
Kuleba added that a second ship, flying the flag of San Marino, was also attacked while leaving port with a cargo of corn.
“This is further proof that Russia is deliberately attacking civilian ships, international trade, and maritime safety,” he said.
Attacks Near Chornomorsk Port
Odesa regional governor Oleg Kiper confirmed that both incidents occurred near the port of Chornomorsk, on Ukraine’s southern Black Sea coast, a key hub for the country’s agricultural exports.
Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukrainian-bound and Ukraine-linked commercial vessels during its nearly four-year invasion, a campaign Kyiv has described as maritime “terror” aimed at crippling the country’s economy and food exports.
Russia Issues Warning to Ships
Moscow denies deliberately attacking civilians but has previously warned that any vessel sailing toward Ukrainian ports could be treated as carrying military cargo, a stance that has raised concerns among shipping companies and international trade groups.
Ukraine has accused Russia of undermining global food security, noting that grain and vegetable oil shipments from its Black Sea ports are vital for markets across Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
The latest attacks are likely to intensify international scrutiny over the safety of civilian shipping in the Black Sea and renew calls for stronger measures to protect maritime trade routes.