Russian Governor claims Ukraine targeted a grain ship, killing three crew members, while Ukraine denies the attack and accuses Russia of grain transport.
Russian Governor of the Kherson Region, Vladimir Saldo, accused Ukraine of targeting a grain ship with a drone, resulting in the deaths of three crew members. Ukraine denied the attack and, in response, accused Russia of transporting grain from Crimea using Soviet-era river-sea vessels.
The vessel named Volgo-Balt 138, built in 1971, was reported to be operating between the Azov Port in the Rostov region and the Kavkaz Port in the Krasnodar region. This class of ships, designed by the Soviets, is used for river and sea transportation. The vessels, with a deadweight tonnage of 3,165 dwt, are approximately 114 meters long.
Russian officials claimed that the ship was struck on April 3, approximately 300 miles north of Kerch, near Cape Arabat in the Sea of Azov, and that it caught fire as a result of the attack.
Three crew members are missing or have died.
It was reported that the 35-year-old first officer lost his life in the attack. The crew managed to retrieve the body during the evacuation, but two crew members were reported missing.
The nine survivors reached the shore via a lifeboat, but authorities were only able to access the crew on April 5. The report stated that local residents provided support to the crew while they awaited rescue. The ship's captain was noted to have been hospitalized for treatment after being rescued.
While initial reports suggested that the ship had sunk, according to TASS, the burned wreckage of the ship was later towed. Authorities reported that the lifeless bodies of two crew members were recovered before the ship sank.
Allegations of grain being transported from Crimea.
The Ukrainian side claimed that at least four ships belonging to the Volgo-Balt company were used for grain transportation from occupied Crimea.
Governor Saldo, in his statement, argued that Ukraine's attacks on civilian vessels were not the first, asserting that the ship was in international waters and that those responsible should be held accountable.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
