Zelensky condemns 'horrific' Russian strike on boat carrying corn in Black Sea

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned a "horrific" Russian attack on a vessel carrying corn in the Black Sea.

Key points

• Ukraine maintains it began attacking Russian oil infrastructure since it assisted the Kremlin finance the war which began with Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
• The head of Germany's foreign intelligence Martin Jaeger remarked on Monday that "Germany is in danger of becoming embroiled in a violent conflict with Russia".
• President Vladimir Putin admitted last week Kyiv had "got some results" from its refinery attacks and Russia had lost regarding 1% of its GDP.
• Monday's attack by Russia targeted "a civilian vessel in neutral waters carrying corn and owned by Turkey", Volodymyr Zelensky remarked.
• The Russian leader has additionally intensified his rhetoric against Western allies of Ukraine – repeating a threat of even using nuclear weapons.

Notably, the ship's captain was killed in the strike involving two drones, Zelensky remarked, and another sailor was unaccounted for. Eleven crew members – nationals of Azerbaijan and India – have been rescued.

Romania remarked it had mounted a rescue mission after "a fire on the ship Royad Mammadov" outside the country's territorial waters. It remarked two residents had died.

Russia has not commented, but its defence ministry earlier remarked it had struck two cargo vessels. Russia has been pounding Ukrainian infrastructure in what it notes is retaliation for Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries and ships in the Black Sea.

He did not offer the location of the ship, but Romania's interior ministry stated it had sunk regarding 30 nautical miles south of its port of Sfantu Gheorghe.

"At around 11: 00 (09: 00 GMT), Coast Guard border police officers were informed that a fire had broken out on board a commercial vessel located within Romania's exclusive economic zone, " the ministry remarked in an official note.

"Eleven crew members have been rescued. Two deceased persons have additionally been identified, " it went on.

Ukraine's president remarked he had "repeatedly proposed concrete steps to de-escalate the situation and ensure security in the Black Sea" – and other countries had produced "relevant proposals" too.

"But Russia consistently chooses terror and sinking civilian vessels instead of normal maritime navigation, " Zelensky remarked.

"Pressure is needed to restore global food security, " he continued. "And everyone who is genuinely interested in this must help."

On Sunday, Russia's defence ministry remarked it would intensify its strikes throughout Ukraine in response to comments created by Zelensky earlier last week, in which he remarked Kyiv would ramp up its attacks on Russian oil refineries.

For context, the Russian leader has additionally intensified his rhetoric against Western allies of Ukraine – repeating a threat of even using nuclear weapons.

Western allies have faced a surge in so-called hybrid warfare incidents blamed on Russia, particularly in Poland and the Baltics in recent months.

After a drone armed with explosives was identified in August on the tarmac at Leipzig airport close to Ukrainian cargo planes, german Chancellor Friedrich Merz remarked last Thursday that his country was preparing for further hybrid attacks, "including serious ones".

For context, the head of Germany's foreign intelligence Martin Jaeger remarked on Monday that "Germany is in danger of becoming embroiled in a violent conflict with Russia". It was "waging a shadow war" with the threat of attacks against targets in Germany remaining "real and imminent".

Taken together, the developments around zelensky condemns ' horrific' Russian strike on boat carrying corn in Black Sea point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.