On March 1, Russia launched a missile attack on Ukraine’s Odesa Port, damaging port infrastructure and impacting vessels and personnel docked at the port. According to Odesa regional governor Oleh Kiper, the attack occurred in the afternoon, damaging an MSC container ship and a bulk carrier managed by a Turkish company. Two port workers were injured and have been hospitalized.

Vessels Hit

• MSC Levante F: A container ship operated by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), flying the Panamanian flag. It is owned by a European company and was docked at the port at the time of the incident.
• Super Sarkas: A bulk carrier managed by Turkey's Thor company, flying the Sierra Leone flag. It was carrying 21,000 tons of corn and soybeans.

The port authorities and vessel operators have not provided details regarding the cargo onboard or the extent of damage to the vessels and their cargo. MSC and Thor have yet to respond to the incident.

Unverified reports suggest that the attack may be linked to allegations that these vessels were transporting British weapons for Ukraine. MSC resumed operations in Ukraine in June 2024, alongside other major shipping lines such as Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd.

Escalating Tensions and Impact on Maritime Trade

The attack comes amid stalled peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. Tensions have heightened following a public confrontation between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office. Zelensky was expected to sign an agreement with the U.S. regarding Ukraine’s mineral rights as repayment for military aid. However, the agreement was not signed due to Trump's failure to provide security assurances against further Russian offensives.

Despite ongoing attacks, Ukraine has stated that its maritime food corridor remains operational. According to Oleksiy Kuleba, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Communities and Territorial Development, the corridor has processed 106 million tons of cargo, including nearly 70 million tons of grain, supplying agricultural products to Africa, Asia, and Europe. Kuleba reiterated Ukraine’s call for stronger protection against Russian strikes, emphasizing the country’s role as a key global food supplier.

At the Kyiv International Food Security Conference, President Zelensky revealed that since July 2023, Russia has damaged 321 port infrastructure facilities and 20 foreign merchant vessels.

As a major grain exporter, Ukraine ships approximately 6 million tons of grain per month through its Black Sea ports. After an initial blockade at the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Russia unilaterally terminated the Black Sea Grain Deal last year, forcing Kyiv to establish a new export route via the Black Sea. Originally designed as a humanitarian corridor for stranded vessels, this route has since evolved into a major trade channel. However, ships along this route continue to face the risk of attacks, while drifting naval mines pose an additional hazard to maritime transport.