DISINFO: Ukraine hit a civilian vessel that illegally entered a Ukrainian port
SUMMARY
A Liberian cargo ship was hit by a missile in the port of Odesa; the ship violated the Russian Ministry of Defense's ban on the export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea after the termination of the grain deal... The Russian defense department has repeatedly stated that it does not attack civilian targets. Most likely, the Filipino crew suffered as a result of poor performance of Ukrainian air defense systems.
RESPONSE
An attempt to deflect blame from a Russian attack which hit a Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative aimed at distorting statistics and facts of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, aiming to shift blame from Russia onto the EU and other western nations for Russia’s withdrawal from the BSGI deal. This is also an attempt to deflect attention away from Russia's deliberate campaign to destroy key Ukrainian infrastructure.
On November 8, Ukrainian defense forces reported another Russian attack on Ukrainian port infrastructure. As a result of a rocket attack, a missile fired by Russian tactical aviation hit a civilian vessel flying the Liberian flag. The vessel was entering the port Pivdennyi in the Odesa region of Ukraine. As a result of the attack, one sailor was killed, three were injured, and a port worker was also injured. The targeted vessel was exclusively civilian and did not transport weapons, as the vessel transported iron ore to China.
The Russian attack was recorded and confirmed by a UN representative. On November 9, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine Denise Brown expressed outrage at the attack on a civilian vessel. The UN representative emphasized that Russian actions violate international humanitarian law. Moreover, also British intelligence confirmed on November 10 that it was Russia that damaged a civilian vessel entering a Ukrainian port.
In mid-July 2023, Russia withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, an agreement under the auspices of the UN for the export of Ukrainian grain. The Kremlin then announced that it “prohibits” ships from entering Ukrainian ports. See this Explainer about the food and grain issue.
Russia's systematic attacks on Ukrainian ports and escalation in the Black Sea are a violation of international humanitarian law, and showcase Russia's brutal disregard for the UN Charter and the UN Convention.
The UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) has repeatedly called on Russia to “cease its unlawful activities, to ensure the safety and welfare of seafarers, the security of international shipping and the marine environment in all affected areas; and respect its obligations under relevant international treaties.”
Read similar cases claiming that Russia suspended the grain deal because the West kept most of the grain, and that Ukraine used grain corridors for drone strike on Russian ships.
Also see previous disinformation narratives in our database alleging that Russia does not target civilian buildings, Russia strictly observes humanitarian law and only hits military targets, Russian forces are not attacking civilian targets.