In a concerning development reported on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that a Russian missile struck a ship in the Black Sea, which was en route to Egypt.
According to President Zelensky, the vessel was transporting grain and was targeted after it had left Ukrainian territorial waters.
He reassured that the incident did not result in any human casualties.
Simultaneously, Reuters, citing a confidential source, reported that a grain transport ship came under attack in the Black Sea on Wednesday night.
The incident, as per Reuters, took place in Romanian waters near the Danube River delta. However, it remains unconfirmed if this was the same ship referred to by President Zelensky.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused Iran of sending short-range ballistic missiles to Russia, a move that escalates Tehran’s involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Washington plans to impose sanctions in response, with Blinken stating that the missile shipments will bolster Moscow’s arsenal at a critical time in the war.
As Kyiv pushes into Russian territory while facing challenges in its east, Blinken announced plans to visit the Ukrainian capital for consultations. He emphasized that the US had warned Tehran against taking this step, calling it a “dangerous escalation.”
Despite Iran’s denial of sending weapons to Moscow, Blinken confirmed that Russia has already received the missiles and is likely to deploy them within weeks.
He also mentioned that sanctions targeting Tehran, including Iran Air, would be announced shortly. Russia’s efforts to boost its military stockpile have intensified, as it aims to outlast Ukraine’s supporters in the ongoing conflict.
