On December 13, the aggressor state, the russian federation, once again carried out an attack on a civilian vessel in the Black Sea. A targeted strike by an unmanned aerial vehicle was recorded against the Turkish ship VIVA, which was en route to Egypt carrying a cargo of sunflower oil. The vessel was traveling through the grain corridor. There were 11 citizens of the Republic of Turkey on board, ProAgro Group reports.
The attack occurred in the open sea, within Ukraine’s exclusive maritime economic zone, outside the range of Ukrainian air defense systems. Thus, russia has grossly violated international maritime law and the principles of freedom of navigation.
Fortunately, the crew was not injured, and the vessel continues its voyage to its destination port in Egypt. Ukraine emphasizes that russia’s aggressive actions constitute a deliberate challenge to international law and maritime security.
As previously reported, insurance costs for commercial vessels operating in the Black Sea have tripled over the past month due to military risks and, according to international brokers, are expected to continue rising.
