MANILA, Philippines (Updated 5:04 p.m.) — Four Filipino seafarers were injured after Russia fired a missile at a civilian ship entering a Black Sea port in Ukraine’s Odesa region, the Department of Migrant Workers said Thursday.
DMW officer-in-charge Hans Leo Cacdac said a Filipino electrician of the Liberian-flagged Kmax Ruler sustained a fracture on his left hand and is receiving treatment at a local hospital.
Meanwhile, the ship’s captain, able seaman, and deck cadet suffered minor injuries and are receiving treatment on board the vessel.
They were at the bridge of the ship when the missile hit.
“Thankfully, they were far enough from the point of impact and suffered non-fatal injuries. They are all out of danger,” Cacdac said.
“As soon as we received the report of the incident, we instructed their manning agency and ship owner to determine what else can be done for them,” he added.
A harbor pilot was killed, while another port worker was injured in the missile attack, Ukraine said.
Both Ukraine and Russia have ramped up military activity and attacks in the Black Sea since a United Nations-brokered deal guaranteeing safe passage for civilian ships collapsed in July. — with report from Agence France-Presse