A Russian ballistic missile struck the Black Sea port of Odesa late Tuesday, killing four Syrian crew members aboard the bulk carrier MJ Pinar, which was loading grain bound for Algeria, according to Ukrainian officials.
The attack came shortly after Ukraine endorsed a proposed 30-day ceasefire with Russia.
MARITIME INCIDENT UPDATE: A Russian missile strike reportedly hit the grain vessel MJ Pinar at Odesa’s Black Sea port, killing at least four people. The vessel was loading wheat for export when attacked, according to Ukraine’s Sea Ports Authority, which briefly reported the… pic.twitter.com/kz6cJhT4vZ
— The Risk Intelligence Group (@riskintelgroup) March 11, 2025
“Unfortunately, four people died — citizens of Syria. The youngest victim was 18, the oldest was 24 years old. Two more people were wounded — a Ukrainian and a Syrian,” Oleksiy Kuleba, Ukraine’s vice prime minister for reconstruction, wrote on social media.
He added: “Russia is attacking Ukraine’s infrastructure, including ports that are crucial for global food security.”
As of press time, the Syrian government has not yet commented on the deaths of its citizens resulting from the Russian strike.
On the evening of March 11, 2025, Russia launched a ballistic missile attack on the Port of Odessa, impacting ongoing peace negotiations. The Barbados-flagged bulk carrier MJ Pinar sustained significant damage, resulting in the deaths of four crew members. pic.twitter.com/CbqUDbVB9G
— DECK TV (@decktvcom) March 12, 2025
The missile also reportedly struck the seawall, causing extensive damage to the pier, the terminal’s grain gallery, and other port facilities. A fire broke out aboard the vessel, but emergency responders quickly brought it under control.
Meanwhile, in the southeastern city of Kryvyi Rih, a woman was killed in a rocket attack, according to Serhiy Lysak, the governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region, who shared the news on Telegram. The attack also left nine people injured and caused damage to the city’s infrastructure.
The recent Russian attack came just hours after Ukraine launched a drone strike on Moscow that killed three employees of Miratorg, one of Russia’s largest meat producers.
Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched a total of three missiles and 133 drones of various types overnight, including Iranian-designed Shahed attack drones. According to the statement, air defenses intercepted 98 of the drones.
