As result of the attack, three crew members were injured

On theevening of November 8, Russian aggressors fired a missile at a vessel enteringthe port in the Odessa region. This information was reported by the SouthernUkraine Defense Forces on Telegram .

Themilitary aggressors launched an anti-radiation missile, the Kh-31P, in thedirection of one of the ports in the Odessa region. It hit the superstructureof a civilian ship flying the flag of Liberia as it was entering the port.

As a resultof the attack, a pilot was killed, and three crew members (citizens of Liberia)were injured, with one of them being hospitalized.

NataliaHumeniuk, the spokesperson for the Southern Ukraine Defense Forces, noted that the deceasedpilot of the ship held Ukrainian citizenship and worked in theAdministration of Sea Ports.

Shementioned that the invaders targeted the ship's bridge area. During the attack,a Ukrainian pilot was on board, and three other crew members were injured.Their lives are not in danger.

"Therewas also information about the injury of another port worker. The injuries arenot critical, most likely barotrauma," the spokesperson added.

The ship sustained significant damage as a result of the missile strike by the occupiers.

Ukraine'sMinister of Community and Territory Development and Infrastructure, AlexanderKubrakov, stated that the ship was supposed to transport iron ore to China. Hementioned that this was the 21st deliberate attack by Russia on Ukraine's portinfrastructure following the exit from the "grain deal."

Kubrakov also added that despite the attack, Ukraine's alternative Black Sea export corridor is operational.

"Vessel traffic continues both to and from the ports of Greater Odessa," he stated on social media. The Minister mentioned that six vessels carrying 231,000 tons of agricultural products on board have departed from the ports of the Odessa region and are heading for the Bosphorus Strait in Turkey.

"Five vessels are awaiting entry to the ports for loading. Movement along the #Ukrainian_corridor continues despite Russia's systematic attacks on port infrastructure," Kubrakov added.

Thealternative Black Sea export corridor of Ukraine is operational despiteRussia's recent attack on a civilian ship.

It is worthnoting that after Russia's withdrawal from the "grain initiative,"military aggressors have been regularly shelling grain storage facilities andinfrastructure in Ukrainian ports and occasionally attacking ships in the BlackSea.

In July,for example, aggressors attacked and damaged five civilian ships within ninedays. They also regularly drop aerial bombs in the shipping areas.