Russia's attacks on ports and ships in Ukrainian territory continue, causing serious concern for the international community. As a result of these attacks, civilians and infrastructure are being damaged, further intensifying the humanitarian aspects of the conflict.
Redaksiya, citing Unian, reports that on December 12, strikes were carried out by Russia on the ports of Chernomorsk and Odesa. An employee of a private company was injured at the port of Odesa, and a container loading facility was damaged. At Chernomorsk, a ferry flying the Turkish flag was attacked, and a fire broke out on the ship. Several hours later, the attacking side again struck the Odesa region, specifically damaging port infrastructure. This was the second attack on the facility within a single day.
On November 13, a Russian drone in the Black Sea attacked the Turkish-owned vessel "VIVA," which was carrying sunflower oil to Egypt via the "grain corridor." The attack occurred within Ukraine's exclusive maritime economic zone but outside the range of Ukrainian air defense systems. The ship had 11 Turkish citizens on board, the ship's crew. Fortunately, the sailors were unharmed.
According to Dmytro Pletenchuk, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Naval Forces, the attack on the "VIVA" vessel was a deliberate strike by a Russian kamikaze drone. The drone directly hit the ship's captain's bridge. Pletenchuk noted that this is the fourth ship belonging to Turkish companies to be damaged by Russia in the last two days. He emphasized that the previous three ships were attacked in ports, while the "VIVA" was damaged in the open sea.
Pletenchuk also stated that attacking civilian ships in the open sea is not a new tactic for Russia. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russia has damaged over 130 ships in Ukraine's exclusive maritime economic zone. He highlighted that the drone specifically struck the captain's bridge, where the crew and ship's controls are located. This is a deliberate attack targeting people.
"The kamikaze drone deliberately attacked it. The ship, despite its size, is a small dynamic target, and it requires effort to hit it," the spokesperson explained. "The kamikaze drone hit the captain's bridge. Not just anywhere, but precisely the bridge, where the crew controlling the ship is located," the military official noted.
During the full-scale invasion, Russia has damaged over 130 ships in Ukraine's exclusive maritime economic zone. "Therefore, it is not possible to say that this is something fundamentally new on Russia's part," concluded the spokesperson for the Ukrainian Naval Forces.