Russian Missile Strike Kills 2 At Odesa Port, Injures 6 Including Syrian Crew Members

On July 3, a Russian missile struck the Odesa Sea Port in southern Ukraine, killing two people and injuring six others, including two Syrian crew members from a cargo ship.

The missile, identified as an Iskander, hit a berth where workers were unloading metal from a cargo ship registered in São Tomé and Príncipe. Among the dead were a dockworker and a truck driver.

The injured included port workers, a driver, and two Syrian crewmembers from the vessel. All wounded individuals are receiving medical care.

The explosion caused significant damage to port facilities, including gantry cranes, warehouses, equipment, and containers. Photos shared online showed damaged containers and a truck at the site.

Earlier on the same day, the Ukrainian Air Force issued a warning about a ballistic missile threat coming from Crimea. Minutes later, the missile struck Odesa. Other missile strikes also hit parts of the city, including a high-rise apartment building early in the morning, causing fires and injuries.

Additionally, Odesa was targeted by a Russian Shahed drone strike overnight. This attack hit a residential building, injuring six civilians, including a 7-year-old boy and a 9-year-old girl.

A separate Russian drone strike in Poltava on July 3 killed two people and wounded at least eleven. Fires broke out at the Poltava Unified City Territorial Recruitment Center and a nearby private home. Rescuers evacuated ten people from the affected areas.

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction Oleksiy Kuleba condemned the strike on Odesa Port. He said Russia has attacked Ukrainian ports repeatedly over the past four years, aiming to destroy transportation hubs and disrupt exports.

He added that in just three months in 2024, Russian attacks damaged 300 port facilities, 177 vehicles, and 22 civilian ships. These strikes have killed 79 port workers, logistics employees, and ship crews.

Kuleba emphasised the importance of free and safe navigation and called for a strong international response to Russia’s attacks on civilian infrastructure.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, also spoke out, calling the missile strike a war crime. He said Moscow has rejected all efforts for ceasefire and peace and instead continues to escalate terror. Sybiha stressed the urgent need for increased international pressure on Russia.

Odesa is a critical port, handling about 90% of Ukraine’s exports, including millions of tonnes of grain and metal. Since August 2023, after Ukraine established a safe shipping corridor in the Black Sea, over 101 million tonnes of food cargo, including 78.5 million tonnes of grain, have been exported through Odesa ports.

References: kyivpost, Reuters

Source: Maritime Shipping News