March 5 (Reuters) – A Russian drone damaged a civilian Panama-flagged vessel that was transporting corn near the Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk in the Black Sea Odesa region, the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority said late on Wednesday.
The vessel was hit while en route out of the port, the ports authority said on the Telegram messaging app, without specifying the extent of the damage to the ship.
The Ukrainian navy said one crew member had been hurt in the attack on the “BULL” vessel, which had left the port and was heading towards the Bosphorus Strait.
The captain refused assistance and evacuation of the injured person and continued on its designated route, the statement, posted on social media, added.
Ukraine ships about 90% of its exports via the Odesa port hub.
Russia in recent months has been attacking Ukraine’s maritime export arteries, including ports, which are crucial for its foreign trade and the survival of its wartime economy.
The attacks on port infrastructure – causing a jump in logistics and freight costs – have hurt local businesses, forcing them to lower their prices to remain competitive on the global market.
(Reporting by Anna Pruchnicka; Editing by Sonali Paul and Philippa Fletcher)
