Ship hit by Russian missile was to carry ore to China

The Russians launched a Kh-31P anti-radar missile towards one of the ports of Odesa Oblast on the evening of 8 November and hit a Liberian-flagged civilian vessel, killing the ship's pilot.

Source: press service of Operational Command Pivden (South)

Details: A Russian tactical aircraft fired the missile in the Black Sea as the vessel was entering the port.

The ship’s pilot, who was a Ukrainian citizen, was killed, and a port worker and three crew members, all citizens of the Philippines, were injured, with one of them being hospitalised.

Oleksandr Kubrakov, Ukraine’s Infrastructure Minister, said the vessel had been due to carry iron ore to China.

Background: On 17 July, Russia unilaterally withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Since then it has repeatedly attacked Ukraine's grain port infrastructure.

Ukraine later introduced temporary corridors in the Black Sea for merchant ships sailing to and from Ukrainian ports. The new corridor meant that not only grain but also other products, including steel, could be exported.

Ukraine has also introduced a compensation mechanism for shipowners in the event of damage caused by the Russian Federation in the Procedure for Providing Guarantees of Compensation for Damage Caused by the Russian Aggression, approved by Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 548.

This is the first time a shipowner will likely have the right to use it and claim compensation for damage.

Moreover, the Black Sea corridor may be at risk, as this is the first time that Russia has attacked a civilian vessel sailing to Ukrainian ports.

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