Ten killed as Russian attacks on merchant ships in Black Sea intensify

Key Points:

• The death toll from a Russian missile strike on the Guinea-Bissau-flagged cargo ship off Odesa has risen to 10, including four Indian nationals, highlighting the dangers to foreign crews navigating Ukraine's maritime export routes.
• The attack is part of Russia's intensified campaign to disrupt Ukraine's Black Sea maritime corridor, which is crucial for exporting over two-thirds of Ukraine's agricultural products valued at around $9 billion.
• Ukraine is preparing measures to enhance navigation safety and protect civilian vessels from further Russian attacks, while also increasing its own strikes on Russian naval assets in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov.
• In July alone, 28 people died in Russian strikes in the Odesa region, and Ukraine reported hitting 183 Russian vessels, underscoring ongoing intense conflict in the maritime domain.
• Beyond the Black Sea, Russian strikes have caused civilian casualties in eastern and southern Ukraine, with the UN reporting June as the deadliest month for Ukrainian civilians since April 2022, while Kyiv continues drone attacks on Russian logistics and oil facilities near Moscow.