Two Cargo Ships Hit in Russian Attacks on Ukrainian Shipping, One Seafarer Killed

Two civilian cargo vessels were struck in separate Russian attacks on Friday, 9 January, killing one seafarer and injuring another, Ukrainian officials said, as renewed strikes hit ports and shipping linked to Ukraine’s export corridors.

The incidents occurred amid one of the largest overnight aerial assaults of the war, during which Russian forces launched hundreds of drones and missiles against targets across Ukraine, including Kyiv and port infrastructure in the south.

General Cargo Ship Hit While Transiting Sea Corridor

The first incident involved the general cargo vessel Wael K, which was reportedly struck by a Russian drone while sailing in the Ukrainian Sea Corridor en route to Chornomorsk. Ukrainian authorities said the drone hit the vessel’s upperworks.

The ship’s second mate, a Syrian national, was injured in the attack and taken for medical treatment. Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba later confirmed that another crew member, also a Syrian citizen, died as a result of the strike, describing the incident as a war crime.

The Wael K, an 8,000-dwt vessel built in 1994 and registered in St. Kitts and Nevis, is owned by Turkish interests and was inbound to load a grain cargo. Despite the damage, the ship was able to continue under its own power and was reported to be heading to the nearest port.

Bulk Carrier Struck While Loading in Odesa

In a separate incident the same day, a dry bulk carrier was hit while alongside in the Greater Odesa port complex, Ukrainian officials said. The vessel, Ladonna, was reportedly loading soybeans at the time of the attack.

The 22,000-dwt ship, built in 1995, is registered in Comoros, owned by Turkish interests, and managed from China. No fatalities were reported in this second strike, and Ukrainian authorities did not immediately disclose details about damage or injuries.

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