Russia Attacks Two Civilian Ships Carrying Food in Black Sea, Says Ukraine

Russia has launched attacks on two additional civilian ships in the Black Sea, both engaged in transporting food commodities, according to Ukraine's Minister of Regional Development Oleksiy Kuleba. The incidents occurred near the port of Chornomorsk on Ukraine's southern coast, escalating concerns over the safety of international maritime trade routes. One vessel, a Panamanian-flagged tanker awaiting entry to load vegetable oil, sustained a direct hit from an enemy drone, resulting in a fire and injuries to a crew member.

The second vessel, flying the flag of San Marino and departing the port laden with corn, was also targeted in the assault. Ukrainian authorities described the strikes as deliberate actions against civilian shipping, international commerce, and navigational security. Minister Kuleba condemned the attacks as evidence of Russia's intentional campaign to disrupt food exports critical to global supply chains.

These latest incidents form part of a broader pattern observed throughout Russia's nearly four-year invasion of Ukraine. Kyiv has repeatedly accused Moscow of conducting a systematic effort to terrorize maritime corridors and severely impair Ukrainian agricultural exports. Russian forces have targeted vessels bound for or departing from Ukrainian ports, severely constraining the country's ability to maintain grain shipments essential for food security in multiple regions worldwide.

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Moscow has consistently rejected claims of targeting civilian infrastructure, maintaining that any vessel approaching Ukrainian ports risks being regarded as transporting military supplies. Russian officials have issued warnings that such ships may face military action, framing their operations as defensive measures against perceived threats. The conflicting accounts highlight the heightened risks confronting commercial shipping in the Black Sea amid ongoing hostilities.

The attacks near Chornomorsk underscore the persistent vulnerability of civilian maritime traffic in the conflict zone. Ukrainian regional governor Oleg Kiper confirmed the location of the strikes, emphasizing their impact on port operations and crew safety. As the war continues, these developments raise serious questions about the protection of international trade routes and the broader implications for global food markets dependent on Ukrainian exports.

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