A Turkish-owned merchant ship was struck today by three Russian missiles, killing five sailors, the Ukrainian Navy announced, adding that the fate of five other crew members remains unknown.

The bulk carrier, which was loaded with grain, was flying the flag of Guinea-Bissau and was struck by three cruise missiles “as it was moving away from the conflict zone,” the source said.

Eight people were rescued and have been taken to a hospital in Odessa, on the Black Sea.

“This is a new, deliberate attack by Russia against an unarmed civilian vessel flying a foreign flag, which posed absolutely no threat. This attack is an act of terrorism against peaceful navigation and a serious violation of international humanitarian law,” Kyiv emphasized.

According to Andriy Sibicha, who is serving as acting foreign minister, the crew consisted mainly of Syrians and Indians. Among the dead is the Ukrainian captain.

“While the world continues to react to Russia’s brutal nighttime attack on Kyiv, Moscow is continuing its campaign of terror throughout the day,” he denounced.

On the night from Saturday to Sunday, the Russian military fired approximately 20 ballistic missiles at Kyiv, killing one person and injuring 16 others, one day after the deadly Ukrainian attacks on Russia. The Russian military frequently bombs Ukrainian ports, particularly in the Odessa region.

Source: APE-MPE