Russian forces have again targeted civilian shipping in Ukraine’s Odesa region. The attack damaged the foreign-flagged tugboat Tedy.
Two crew members, both Azerbaijani nationals, were killed. Two other Azerbaijanis were hospitalized with injuries. Six more Azerbaijani crew members received medical assistance at the scene and did not require hospitalization, according to Ukraine’s Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories.
This was not Russia’s first recent attack on civilian vessels near Odesa. On August 5, Russian drones repeatedly struck the bulk carrier EMIL, which was transporting 173,000 tonnes of iron ore from the Port of Pivdennyi. The same day, the cargo ship MERA QUEEN was attacked while sailing from Odesa through the Ukrainian maritime corridor. One crew member was killed.
On July 19, Russian missiles struck the bulk carrier GOLDEN LEO after it departed the Port of Chornomorsk carrying more than 6,000 tonnes of corn. Nine crew members and a Ukrainian maritime pilot were killed, while two sailors were injured. The damaged vessel sank near Odesa a week later.
According to Ukraine’s Infrastructure Ministry, Russia attacked 52 civilian vessels in the Black Sea in July and the first half of August alone.
