Ukrainian authorities: Turkish merchant ship hit by Russian missiles – five people killed

A Turkish merchant ship was hit by three Russian missiles, killing five sailors, the Ukrainian Navy announced last night.

The fate of the remaining five crew members is currently unknown.

The transport ship, which was carrying grain, was hit by three cruise missiles "while leaving the combat zone," the Ukrainian Navy said on social media, adding that eight people were evacuated to a hospital in Odessa on the Black Sea.

"This is another deliberate attack by Russia on an unarmed civilian ship flying a foreign flag that posed absolutely no military threat. This attack constitutes a terrorist act against peaceful navigation and a serious violation of international humanitarian law," the navy said.

The crew included Syrians and Indians, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga wrote on the X platform, adding that the captain, a Ukrainian, was among the dead.

"While the world is still reacting to Russia's brutal nighttime attack on Kiev, Moscow continues its campaign of terror throughout the day," the Ukrainian minister added.