Russian Attack Damages Search-And-Rescue Tug In Odesa Region

(MENAFN- UkrinForm) According to Ukrinform, the Ministry for Recovey, Infrastructure and Transport reported this on Facebook.

“Russia has once again attacked civilian shipping. As a result of a Russian UAV attack, the Sapphire maritime search-and-rescue tug was damaged at one of the ports in the Odesa region. The vessel was clearly marked in accordance with the requirements of international maritime conventions. According to preliminary information, no one was injured,” the statement said.

The ministry stressed that the attack was particularly cynical because it targeted a civilian SAR (Search and Rescue) vessel that performs exclusively civilian functions.

According to the Infrastructure Ministry, this constitutes another gross violation by Russia of international humanitarian and maritime law. Civilian vessels, port infrastructure and rescue services cannot constitute lawful military targets.

The ministry also emphasized that such attacks are not“collateral damage” or an accident, but systematic strikes that pose a direct threat to the lives of sailors, rescuers and port workers, as well as to the safety of international shipping.

Ukraine is documenting all circumstances and evidence of the crime and will inform the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and international partners, while demanding an appropriate response.

“Russia must be unequivocally condemned for its systematic attacks on civilian shipping and Ukraine's port infrastructure. Such crimes cannot go unanswered,” the Infrastructure Ministry added.

Read also: Russian attack on Odesa region leaves 24 injured, homes, warehouses damaged

As reported, Ukraine appealed to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) over the sharp escalation in the Black Sea, which threatens the continued operation of Ukraine's maritime corridor.

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