Two grain ships in the Black Sea were destroyed by Russian missiles, killing one person and injuring five people

Russian missiles attacked two-grain ships in the Black Sea for two consecutive days, killing one Ukrainian worker and injuring five crew members.

The attacks targeted the southern port of Odesa, where the Palau-flagged ship “Optima” killed a Ukrainian citizen and injured foreign crew members on October 7, 2024.

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba confirmed that the ship had just arrived in Odesa before the attack but did not provide specific details about its cargo.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrei Sefa criticized Russia’s continued attacks on grain export centers on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), saying that these incidents require a coordinated global response to protect shipping and maintain global food security.

The governor of the Odessa region, Oleh Kiper, confirmed via the messaging app Telegram that the victim was a port worker and the injured were foreigners on the Optima crew.

The latest attack follows a similar attack on October 6, when another grain ship, the Saint Kitts and Nevis-flagged Parisa, carrying 6,000 tons of corn, was damaged in the port of Bivdini.

All 15 crew members on board (Egyptian and Syrian) escaped unharmed.

According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Rehabilitation, the Parisa is the 20th civilian ship damaged by Russian forces in the ongoing conflict, which began with a full-scale invasion in February 2022.

The Saint Kitts and Nevis-flagged bulk carrier Aya was damaged by a Russian missile in the Black Sea last month. Another Antigua-flagged container ship was damaged in an attack by a Russian missile in Odessa.

Attacks against Ukrainian grain exports have increased in recent months, with Russian attacks often targeting the Danube and Odesa rivers.

Despite these attacks, Ukrainian export volumes have remained stable. However, traders have used more expensive alternatives to avoid disruptions.

Russia has repeatedly denied attacking civilian infrastructure, and the Defense Department did not respond to requests for comment.

However, ongoing attacks, including a ballistic missile strike on a ship in neutral waters last month, continue to disrupt global food supplies and increase instability in regions that rely on Ukrainian exports.

As of October 8, the port of Pevdni was operating normally, according to a Ukrainian navy spokesman.