A foreign cargo vessel that was struck by Russian missiles on July 19 after departing port with a shipment of Ukrainian corn sank in the Black Sea near the coast of Odessa on Sunday, according to Odesa Regional Military Administration head Oleh Kiper.
Kiper said the July 19 attack killed 9 crew members and a Ukrainian pilot. 8 other crew members were successfully evacuated.
"Unfortunately, the enemy attack claimed the lives of nine crew members and a Ukrainian pilot. Another eight crew members were evacuated. There was no crew on board at the time the vessel sank," Kiper said.
He said Russia had once again demonstrated its deliberate targeting of civilian shipping.
"The enemy has once again shown that it deliberately attacks civilian maritime traffic, putting lives and the safety of maritime transport at risk," Kiper said.
