On March 1, Russia launched a missile strike on Ukraine’s Odessa port, causing damage to port infrastructure and affecting vessels docked at the harbor. According to Oleg Kiper, the governor of the Odessa region, the attack took place at approximately 5:47 PM local time, resulting in damage to a container ship owned by MSC and a bulk carrier operated by a Turkish company. Two port workers were injured and have been hospitalized for treatment.
Kiper stated that one of the targeted vessels was the “MSC Levante F,” a container ship operated by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), flying the Panamanian flag and owned by a European company. At the time of the strike, the vessel was docked at the port. Additionally, the Turkish bulk carrier “Super Sarkas,” managed by Thor Shipping, was also damaged. The ship was carrying 21,000 tons of corn and soybeans. Neither the port authorities nor the shipping companies have provided details regarding the specific cargo damage or the extent of the vessel damage. As of now, MSC and Thor Shipping have not issued official responses regarding the incident.
Kiper further emphasized that the missile attack not only impacted commercial vessels but also caused destruction to port infrastructure. He noted that this was not the first time foreign ships had been affected by Russian strikes on Ukrainian ports. In a previous attack on Odessa port in October 2024, multiple vessels had also sustained damage.
Local media reports confirm that emergency services promptly intervened to mitigate the consequences of the attack, while medical personnel provided immediate care to the injured workers. Odessa Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov later confirmed that the injured individuals were receiving hospital treatment.
During the Kyiv International Grain Security Conference, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that since July 2023, Russian strikes have damaged 321 port infrastructure facilities and 20 foreign commercial vessels.
As a major global grain exporter, Ukraine ships approximately 6 million tons of grain per month through its Black Sea ports. Following the initial blockade at the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Russia unilaterally withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Initiative last year, forcing Kyiv to establish a new export route in the Black Sea. Initially conceived as a humanitarian corridor to allow stranded vessels to depart, the route has since evolved into a fully operational trade corridor. However, vessels along this Black Sea route continue to face the threat of attacks, while drifting sea mines pose an additional risk to maritime transport.
