March 2nd 2025.
The sky above the port city of Odesa was filled with thick smoke as the aftermath of a Russian strike became visible. According to reports, Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered an attack on a container ship that was allegedly carrying weapons for Ukraine. The strike was carried out using two Iskander-M ballistic missiles, causing destruction and chaos in the Black Sea port.
The container ship had arrived in Odesa after making a stop in Turkey, and it was believed to be carrying drones and missiles. A Russian Telegram channel claimed that the target of the attack was the Panama-flagged MSC LEVANTE F, which belonged to a European company. The regional governor, Oleh Kiper, confirmed that two port workers were injured and the infrastructure was damaged.
In a statement on Telegram, Governor Kiper informed that the strike had caused damage to the Panamanian-flagged vessel. He also mentioned that emergency crews were at the site and providing medical assistance to the victims. The Black Sea ports around the city have been frequent targets of Russian attacks since the war began three years ago. The container ship was hit while it was preparing to unload, but there was no confirmation about the cargo it was carrying.
Although several pro-Kremlin Telegram channels celebrated the destruction of the shipment, these claims have not been verified. Ukrainian vice prime minister Oleksii Kuleba refuted these claims, stating that the container ship was carrying civilian cargo. He also revealed that a second ship, with a Sierra Leone flag, was also damaged in the strike. Footage captured the chaos and panic as people ran for shelter when the air raid alert sounded just before the explosion at 6pm on Saturday.
The timing of Russia's attack was no coincidence, as it happened a day before a defense summit in London. During the summit, Sir Keir Starmer announced a new deal that would allow Ukraine to purchase 5,000 air defense missiles using £1.6 billion of UK export finance. These weapons would be manufactured in Belfast, creating job opportunities in the defense sector. Speaking at a press conference, the prime minister emphasized the importance of these weapons in protecting critical infrastructure and securing peace in Ukraine, learning from past mistakes.
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