Russian missile strikes Ukrainian grain ship, raising global food fears
The ship carrying grain from Ukraine was hit by a Russian missile in the Black Sea on Thursday after leaving Ukrainian waters. According to the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the actions of the Russian Federation threaten global food security.
"Romania strongly condemns the Russian attack on a merchant ship in the Black Sea. This unprecedented escalation of the illegal war against Ukraine violates international law and threatens global food security. Russia must stop attacking commercial vessels and respect freedom of navigation," the ministry announced in a statement on Friday.
As noted, the deliberate attack on a commercial vessel is simultaneously a severe violation of international humanitarian law norms, which regulate the laws of war at sea.
The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs "strongly called" on Russia to cease all attacks on commercial ships and to respect the freedom of navigation in this area. Russian attacks on Ukraine's civilian infrastructure were condemned again.
The actions of the Russian Federation threaten global food security, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bucharest.
A Russian missile hit the ship carrying grain from Ukraine in the Black Sea after leaving Ukrainian waters, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on platform X on Thursday. The head of state informed that the vessel was headed to Egypt and no one was injured.
"Ukraine's food deliveries to African and Middle Eastern countries are critical. We will continue to make every effort to safeguard our ports, the Black Sea, and food exports to global markets. This is Ukraine's true priority—to protect life—and it should be the priority of all countries," assured Zelensky.
We are waiting for the world to react. Wheat and food security should never be targets for missiles - said Zelensky.
No crew members were injured
A missile near the mouth of the Danube River off the coast of Romania hit the ship. As Bucharest conveyed, it was not in that country’s territorial waters but in the Romanian exclusive economic zone.
The Romanian Coast Guard confirmed the strike, saying the vessel had a crew of 22 people on board. A representative of the Romanian Coast Guard told Radio Free Europe that no one was injured, and the ship's mobility was not affected.
According to the Coast Guard's statement, the civilian ship was 55 kilometres away from Sfântu Gheorghe in Tulcea County in Romania's exclusive economic zone when the explosion occurred. The vessel was in contact with the Romanian services, and intervention was unnecessary to save lives.
