Cargo Ship Damaged by Russian Mine in Black Sea, Ukraine Says

THE SHADOWS OF ARMED SOLDIERS PASS OVER A CRACKED CONCRETE WALL PAINTED WITH THE COLORS OF THE UKRAINIAN FLAG

Photo: iStock.com/IherPhoto

A Panamanian-flagged cargo ship has been hit by a Russian mine in the Black Sea, Ukrainian officials say. According to BBC News, two of the ship's crew were injured in the December 27 explosion, which caused the ship to lose speed and control.

Ukraine says the vessel, the 8,758 DWT general cargo vessel, Vyssos, had been heading to one of its ports on the Danube river to load grain. Kyiv has continued to export grain along unilaterally declared maritime corridors after Moscow pulled out of a UN-backed Black Sea grain deal.

Ukrainian authorities have published a photo appearing to show the explosion, which caused a fire on the upper deck.

Reports suggest the captain ran the ship aground to prevent it from sinking. An operation is under way to try to tow it to port for repairs.

Russia has continued to attack Ukrainian ports, saying it regards all cargo ships in the Black Sea bound for Ukraine as potential military targets. Meanwhile, mines remain a constant threat to ships.

On November 8, at least one person was killed after a Russian missile struck a Liberian-flagged ship entering the port of Odesa.