Odesa Port Attack: Two Lives Lost and Six Injured in Russian Missile Assault, Including Syrian Nationals

Image Credits: Andrii Sybiha/X

As reported by Kyiv Post,on July 3,a missile strike in Odesa’s Sea Port claimed the lives of two individuals and left six others injured,including two crew members from a Syrian cargo ship.

The missile, an Iskander type, targeted a loading area where workers were busy unloading metal from a vessel registered in São Tomé and Príncipe. Tragically, among those who lost their lives were a dockworker and a truck driver.

The injured parties included port staff and the aforementioned Syrian crew members. Thankfully, all those hurt are currently receiving medical attention.

This attack inflicted severe damage on various port facilities—gantry cranes, warehouses, equipment, and containers were all affected.Social media was flooded with images showing the aftermath: damaged containers strewn about alongside wrecked vehicles.

Earlier that day, Ukrainian Air Force had already issued alerts regarding potential ballistic missile threats originating from Crimea. Just moments after this warning was given, Odesa experienced the missile strike. the city also faced additional attacks that morning; one hit an apartment building leading to fires and injuries among residents.

Moreover, overnight saw another Russian drone assault targeting Odesa which struck a residential structure injuring six civilians—including two young children aged 7 and 9.

In Poltava on the same day as well, another Russian drone attack resulted in two fatalities while injuring at least eleven others. This incident sparked fires at both the Poltava Unified city Territorial Recruitment Center and nearby homes; rescuers managed to evacuate ten individuals from these dangerous areas.

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction Oleksiy Kuleba condemned these strikes vehemently. He pointed out that russia has consistently targeted Ukrainian ports over recent years with intentions to cripple transportation networks crucial for exports.

Kuleba highlighted alarming statistics: within just three months of 2024 alone—Russian assaults have damaged around 300 port facilities along with numerous vehicles and civilian ships resulting in casualties among workers involved in logistics operations.

He stressed how vital it is indeed to ensure safe navigation through international waters while calling for robust global action against Russia’s relentless attacks on civilian infrastructure.

Ukraine’s Foreign minister andrii Sybiha echoed these sentiments labeling the missile strike as tantamount to war crimes committed by Moscow which continues it’s campaign of terror rather than seeking peace or ceasefire solutions. He urged for heightened international pressure against Russia’s actions moving forward.

Odesa serves as an essential hub handling approximately 90% of Ukraine’s exports—this includes vast quantities of grain and metal products vital not onyl locally but globally too. Since establishing safer shipping routes through Black Sea last August over 101 million tonnes worth of food cargo have been exported via Odesa ports alone—including nearly 79 million tonnes specifically attributed to grain shipments.