An Antigua and Barbuda-flagged cargo vessel, VENTURO, was damaged in a Russian strike off the coast of Ukraine’s Odesa region on July 19, leaving the ship disabled and requiring the rescue of its Filipino crew.
According to accounts from Al Jazeera and The Antiguan Herald, the Ukrainian Navy said the Supramax bulk carrier lost propulsion after the attack, leaving it stranded at sea.
Rescue teams managed to bring 17 Filipino seafarers safely ashore, while one crew member was lost and three others were taken to hospital with injuries, as per news reports.
VENTURO, which has a deadweight capacity of up to 57,000 tonnes, was travelling from Varna, Bulgaria, to Sulina, Romania, when it was struck. The vessel operates between the Black Sea and Mediterranean routes under the flag of Antigua and Barbuda.
The article said that the Ukrainian officials described the incident as an attack on civilian shipping, while Russia said the vessel was targeted because ships in the area were carrying military cargo, a claim that has not been independently verified.
The strike has highlighted the growing risks faced by commercial vessels operating in the Black Sea region.
“VENTURO, unable to move under its own power, remains unable to leave the area. The subsequent strike on rescue equipment in Odesa signals that response operations now carry risks comparable to the initial attacks themselves,” reported The Herald.
