Missile strike on Odesa port kills 4, injures 2 amidst ceasefire talks
On Tuesday evening, the Russians launched a missile attack on the port in Odessa. One of the missiles struck a civilian ship flying the flag of Barbados, resulting in the deaths of four sailors and injuring two.
Oleg Kiper, head of the Odessa Regional Military Administration, reported that the Russian ballistic attack damaged the ship "MJ PINA" under the Barbados flag. "Unfortunately, four people were killed — citizens of Syria. The youngest victim was 18, the oldest was 24 years old," Kiper wrote on his Telegram channel.
In addition to the four fatalities, two men were injured - one of them Ukrainian, and the other Syrian. "At the time of the attack, the ship was loading wheat intended for export to Algeria. It is an entirely civilian ship," Kiper emphasized.
According to Kiper, the Russian attack also caused damage to another ship, docks, and grain storage warehouses.
Ukraine agreed to a ceasefire
Kiper emphasized that Russia is targeting Ukraine's infrastructure, including ports essential for global food security. He stressed the need to protect port facilities from acts of terror and to ensure free and safe navigation. Additionally, he highlighted the importance of reinforcing air defense and striving for lasting peace and security through military strength and diplomacy.
On Tuesday, talks between the U.S. and Ukrainian delegations were held in Saudi Arabia. After nearly nine hours of negotiations, both sides issued a joint statement. The U.S. will resume military and intelligence assistance to Kyiv, and the Ukrainian side has expressed readiness to accept the United States' proposal for an immediate, temporary 30-day ceasefire. Now the U.S. is tasked with persuading Russia to accept this solution.
