Two dead, six injured in latest Russian missile attack on Odesa port

By Admin

05 Jul, 2025

The port city of Odesa once again finds itself at the epicenter of conflict as a deadly missile strike by Russian forces claimed two lives and left six others injured on July 4, 2025. Among the injured were two foreign nationals who were working aboard a Sao Tome & Principe-flagged general cargo ship, which was actively unloading a shipment of metal at the time of the attack. The missile directly hit the berth where the vessel was docked, causing extensive damage to gantry cranes, port warehouses, and critical port equipment, according to maritime security firm Ambrey.

This marks the second Russian airborne assault on Ukrainian maritime infrastructure in less than 48 hours, highlighting an escalating campaign targeting the country’s port facilities. The strike not only inflicted human casualties but also further debilitated the operational capabilities of the strategically vital Odesa port.

A Pattern of Relentless Attacks

This incident adds to a string of calculated strikes on Ukrainian port infrastructure that have occurred since the beginning of the full-scale conflict. On March 11, 2025, a missile hit the Barbados-flagged bulk carrier MJ Pinar while it was loading wheat. That attack killed four seafarers and injured several others. Just days earlier, on March 1, the Panama-flagged container ship MSC Levante F was damaged during a similar missile attack, resulting in injuries to two port workers.

Cumulative Impact on Ukraine’s Maritime Sector

The repeated targeting of Ukraine's southern maritime gateway has had devastating effects. Ukrainian authorities report that nearly 400 units of port infrastructure and more than 30 vessels have been destroyed or severely damaged during the course of the war. These losses are not only tragic in human terms but also severely compromise the nation’s economic stability and its ability to engage in global trade particularly in the export of grain and metals.

Global Implications

The targeting of foreign-flagged vessels and the international seafarers aboard them underscores the broader geopolitical risk posed by these strikes. As the port of Odesa continues to suffer from unrelenting bombardment, concerns mount over the safety of maritime personnel and the stability of supply chains that are crucial for both regional and global economies.

The international community continues to watch closely, but for now, Odesa’s port remains under siege its infrastructure weakened, and its workers caught in the crossfire of a war that shows no signs of slowing down.