A Russian missile strike on Odesa’s port infrastructure has killed four Syrians, crew members of a civilian foreign vessel. Several others were wounded.
This was reported by the Odesa Regional Prosecutor’s Office and confirmed by Oleksiy Kuleba, Vice Prime Minister for the Reconstruction of Ukraine and Minister for the Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine.
On 11 March, at around 20:17, the Russian armed forces attacked Odesa’s port infrastructure with an Iskander-M ballistic missile.
Infrastructure and a civilian vessel flying the flag of the Republic of Barbados were damaged.
As a result of the attack, four foreign crew members were killed, while another crew member and a port employee were injured and taken to hospital.
Later, Kuleba stated that the ballistic missile damaged the Barbados-flagged vessel MJ PINA.
The deceased were Syrian citizens. The youngest victim was 18, and the oldest was 24. A Ukrainian and a Syrian were injured and are receiving medical assistance.
At the time of the attack, the vessel was loading wheat for export to Algeria. Another vessel, berths, and grain storage facilities were also damaged.
Under the procedural supervision of the Odesa Regional Prosecutor’s Office, a pre-trial investigation has been launched into the commission of a war crime resulting in loss of life (Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
Prosecutors, in cooperation with other law enforcement agencies, are documenting the consequences of yet another war crime committed by the Russian Federation.