A cargo ship transporting wheat sank in the Sea of Azov following an attack by Ukrainian drones, according to an official from the Russian-controlled region of Kherson, Ukraine. The incident, which resulted in one death and two missing individuals, occurred on Friday. However, the crew was unable to communicate details until Sunday.
Vladimir Saldo, the leader appointed by Moscow in the region, stated that the vessel, named Volgo-Balt, sank due to a terrorist act attributed to the Ukrainian government. He reported that the crew managed to abandon the ship and eventually reached the shore near Strilkove, Kherson. Two crew members remain unaccounted for, while an aide to the captain was confirmed dead. The captain is currently recovering in a hospital, and an investigation into the incident is underway.
Saldo condemned the situation, highlighting that this is not the first time Ukraine has targeted merchant vessels in neutral waters, vowing that there would be repercussions for what he described as a crime. In a prior communication, he mentioned that nine crew members, all Russian nationals, were found alive on the shore. Kherson is one of four Ukrainian regions annexed by Russia following its invasion in 2022.
