Russia has escalated attacks on merchant ships traveling through the Black Sea off Ukraine's coast, recently striking a Guinea-Bissau-flagged vessel, resulting in 10 deaths. Meanwhile, Kyiv authorities are working to find ways to protect various ships.
Foreign news agencies reported that the death toll from Russia's cruise missile attack on a Guinea-Bissau-flagged merchant ship off the coast of Odesa, Ukraine, on Sunday (20 Jul 2026) has risen to 10, including 9 crew members and 1 Ukrainian port pilot.
This marks the bloodiest attack on a cargo ship since Russia began targeting commercial shipping routes in the Black Sea. It is believed Moscow aims to intimidate and block foreign companies from purchasing Ukrainian goods, as well as to pressure against using this maritime route.
The Black Sea route is a crucial economic lifeline for Ukraine's government, with maritime exports accounting for more than two-thirds of Ukraine's total agricultural exports, valued at approximately 9 billion U.S. dollars.
Ukraine has not been idle; Prime Minister Serhiy Koretsky announced that the government and military are preparing urgent measures to enhance maritime safety and protect commercial vessels and their crews from Russian attacks.
In July alone, 28 people have died in Russian attacks in the Odesa region. Nevertheless, the city's beaches remain open to tourists, with bunkers built along various beaches despite high risks from missiles often launched from the sea.
Ukraine responded to Russia's attacks by deploying over 400 drones to strike military targets and oil depots in the Moscow region, resulting in 10 injuries. Reports also indicate a Ukrainian drone attack on a bus in Russia's Belgorod region, killing 5 people, including a child; Ukraine has not commented on this incident.
The United Nations (UN) stated that June saw the highest number of Ukrainian civilian deaths and injuries from Russian attacks since April 2022, the first two months of the war, with at least 293 civilians killed and 1,990 wounded.
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Source:bbc