Two more vessels have been damaged in another Russian missile attack on Ukraine’s Black Sea port of Odesa.
A Belize-flagged 2,700 dwt general cargo ship NS Moon was hit yesterday while moored at the port, together with the Palau-flagged 5,800 dwt Optima, which sustained damage in a previous ballistic missile attack last week.
One person was killed and eight wounded in the Russian shelling of the port, while grain storage facilities and port infrastructure were also damaged, Ukrainian authorities said.
Deputy prime minister Oleksiy Kuleba said last week that Russia had carried out nearly 60 such attacks over the past three months, damaging or destroying almost 300 port facilities and 22 civilian vessels.
The NS Moon on Monday became the fourth merchant vessel to suffer damage while moored at Ukrainian ports within nine days.
Maritime security consultancy Ambrey said 10 vessels were in the port and anchorage of Odesa at the time of the attack.
“Vessels operating in the Black Sea should conduct comprehensive dynamic voyage threat assessments,” Ambrey said in an advisory note, adding: “Vessels calling in Ukraine should review their emergency response protocols for attacks on Ukrainian ports. During aerial attacks on port infrastructure, crew members should remain inside the vessel’s superstructure.”