Ten people were killed Monday in a Russian strike on a commercial vessel near the Ukrainian city of Odesa. The ship, flying the flag of Guinea-Bissau and loaded with grain, had departed from Odesa port the night before with 17 civilian crew members from Syria and India, along with a Ukrainian pilot.
🤯 The death toll from Russia's strike on a civilian vessel near Odesa has risen to 10
Among the victims was a Ukrainian marine pilot. The Guinea-Bissau-flagged ship, loaded with corn, was departing from a Ukrainian port when it was struck. https://t.co/u68JeY9kdJ pic.twitter.com/pIsC1JiI4C
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) July 20, 2026
Ukraine’s Maritime Ports Authority said the search and rescue operation continued all the night, and the fire on the ship was brought under control. Eight crew members were rescued and brought ashore, but ten people, including the pilot, were killed in the incident.
The Russian strike comes amid intense naval activity in the region. In recent weeks, Ukrainian drones have hit at least 118 Russian-linked vessels in the Sea of Azov and 54 more ships in the nearby Black Sea. Kyiv is working to isolate the Crimean peninsula and shut down a key Russian trade route used to export grain and other products, as well as for military purposes.