Ukrainian officials said a Togolese-flagged vessel unloading mineral fertilizers was hit at Odesa, killing five and injuring 10, raising risks for Black Sea shipping, agricultural supply chains and war-risk insurance costs.
A Russian airstrike hit a Togolese-flagged cargo ship unloading mineral fertilizers at the port of Odesa on July 13, killing five people and injuring 10 others. Ukrainian officials said three of those killed were foreign crew members, and said the strike hit the vessel’s superstructure and started a fire on board. Ukraine cast the attack as a direct threat to international navigation, global trade and food security. The strike came amid a broader escalation, with at least 57 people injured across Ukraine in the prior 24 hours. The report also said Ukrainian forces struck between 11 and 20 Russian vessels in mid-July, including oil tankers, underscoring how the Black Sea has become a two-sided conflict zone. The attack revives concerns seen after the Black Sea Grain Initiative collapsed in 2023, when shipping disruptions in the region fed through to global grain prices.