A Russian UAV attack has damaged the maritime search-and-rescue tugboat Sapphire in one of the ports in Odesa Region.
According to the Ministry for Restoration, Infrastructure and Transport of Ukraine, the vessel was clearly marked in line with the requirements of international maritime conventions. Preliminary reports indicate that no one was injured.
“The particular cynicism lies in the fact that the strike hit a civilian search-and-rescue vessel, SAR (Search and Rescue), which performs exclusively civilian functions,” the ministry said.
It also reminded that civilian vessels, port infrastructure and rescue services cannot be lawful military targets.
Ukraine is documenting all the circumstances and evidence of this crime, will notify the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and international partners, and will demand an appropriate response.
- On the night of 13 September, Russian forces carried out a missile-and-drone strike on Odesa Region.