A Russian hypersonic missile reportedly struck a ship that was said to be carrying weapons for Ukraine. An Iskander-M ballistic missile hit a Panama-flagged container ship called MSC Levante F in Odessa, according to reports.
Details of the incident on Saturday evening remain light but the governor of the Odessa region confirmed a missile had struck the port, damaging infrastructure and a civilian vessel flying the Panama flag. Oleh Kiper said: “The enemy hit Odessa with a ballistic missile. Two people were injured.
“The attack damaged port infrastructure and a civilian vessel under the flag of the Republic of Panama, owned by a European company. Two men, port employees, were injured.”
Local reports said smoke could be seen filling the sky after the attack.
No information was immediately available as to what the vessel was carrying, or the extent of the damage, the Kyiv Independent reported.
Russian Telegram war channel Talipov Online claimed the ship had been loaded with British sea drones and weapons in Turkey and sank after being struck by two missiles.
These claims are all unconfirmed.
Oleksiy Kuleba, Deputy Prime Minister for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, denied the ship was carrying weapons, saying it was transporting “completely civilian cargoes”.
The attack came a day before European leaders gathered in central London for talks on the war.
He said Europe must realise it is “not a moment for more talk, it is time to act” and unveiled a four-step plan discussed by the leaders at Sunday’s Lancaster House meeting.
