HANNA ARHIROVA
Thu, December 28, 2023
In this photo provided by Ukraine's Border Guard Service, a Panama-flagged civilian cargo vessel is seen in Odesa region Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. The vessel hit a Russian mine resulting in two injured sailors, said Ukraine's Southern Defense Forces on Thursday. The vessel was supposed to arrive to one of Danube ports to load the grain. (Ukraine's Border Guard Service via AP Photo)
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A civilian cargo ship struck a Russian mine in the Black Sea near Ukraine’s Danube ports Thursday, injuring two sailors, officials and analysts said, in an incident that underscored the dangers faced by those exporting Ukrainian grain during the war.
The Panama-flagged vessel struck the floating mine during stormy weather as it went to pick up grain, according to Ukraine’s Southern Defense Forces, adding that churning seas often increase the risk from mines.
As the fighting grinds on through the winter and likely into a third year after Russia’s February 2022 invasion, and with little recent change along the front line, Ukraine is aiming to strengthen its financial resources for what could be a protracted war.
After Russia pulled out of a U.N.-brokered export agreement last summer, Ukraine launched a new Black Sea shipping corridor to get grain, metals and other cargo to world markets. That has given a boost to Ukraine’s agriculture-dependent economy.
The mine incident occurred about 130 kilometers (80 miles) southwest of Chornomorsk, which is near Odesa on Ukraine’s southern coast, the Ambrey maritime risk analysis company said. The ship with 18 crew was on its way to Izmail, another port in the area.
The mine detonated at the ship's stern, causing equipment and machinery failure and resulting in the vessel losing power, Ambrey said. The captain reportedly maneuvered into shallow water to prevent the ship from sinking.
Ukraine’s much-anticipated counteroffensive last summer largely failed to shift the front line despite billions of dollars in weaponry sent by its Western allies. That has given confidence to the Kremlin’s forces, especially as further Western aid is in question.
One think tank argues that the front line is not currently “a stable stalemate." The Institute for the Study of War in Washington said in an assessment late Wednesday that “the current balance can be tipped in either direction by decisions made in the West or in Russia, and limited Russian gains could become significant especially if the West cuts off military aid to Ukraine.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov suggested that the U.S. and European Union countries plan to continue sending help to Kyiv.
“Neither Washington nor Brussels refrain from assisting the Kyiv regime (Ukrainian government) because they realize it would be doomed without such assistance,” Lavrov said in an interview with state news agency Tass that was released on Thursday. “They remain committed to containing Russia at the expense of Ukrainians and their lives.”
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Jim Heintz in Tallinn, Estonia contributed.
Greek Bulker Hits Mine off Ukrain Injuring Captain and Crewmember
A Greek-owned bulker inbound to Ukraine to load a cargo of grain struck a mine on Wednesday, December 27. The captain and one crewmember were reported injured in the latest incident in the Black Sea.
The vessel is being identified as the Vyssos, a smaller bulker built in 2007 owned by a Greek shipping company and registered in Panama. The 8,758 dwt vessel, which is 366 feet (112 meters in length), was heading to one of Ukraine’s ports along the Danube after holding in the anchorage off Sulina, Romania. Her AIS signal shows she was coming from Italy.
The mine is believed to have explored near the stern of the vessel causing it to initially blackout and lose navigational control. Ambrey is reporting the explosion took place approximately 80 miles southwest of Chornomorsk, Ukraine.
“The ship lost direction and control and caught fire on the upper deck,” the State Border Service of Ukraine wrote in a social media posting.
The vessel reportedly was able to restore some control and the captain maneuvered the bulker, either anchoring it in shallow water or purposefully grounding it on a breakwater depending on the media report. Ukrainian officials said assistance was sent to the vessel and that tugs helped to maneuver it later to port.
Medical team and Coast Guard from Ukraine provided assistance
A medical team from Ukraine boarded the Vyssos and provided assistance. According to the information, the captain suffered minor injuries and was treated on the ship. An Egyptian crewmember thought to be the cook suffered a head injury and was taken to a hospital in Ismail where he is reported to doing well. The Greek media says there is a total of 18 crew aboard, including three Ukrainians, two Turks, and 13 Egyptians.
Ukraine’s deputy prime minister Oleksandr Kubrakov earlier in December highlighted the ongoing success of the grain export efforts. He said since starting the corridor in August, Ukraine has increased the rate of exports from 278,000 tons to nearly five million tons per month. He said over 300 vessels have as of mid-December transported more than 10 million tons of products from Ukraine to 24 countries. As of the middle of the month, he said a total of 337 vessels had arrived in Ukraine’s seaports to load mostly corn and grain as well as some other metal products.
While ships continue to transit the corridor, the danger remains high mostly from mines. Earlier in the fall, Ukraine’s Southern Command warned that Russian forces were dropping what it thought were bottom mines along the route and near the entrance to the ports. The Odesa Maritime Guard told AFP that the Vyssos was the third vessel to be damaged by a mine this month.
Bulker is reported to have lost power and steering but was able to maneuver closer to shore before being towed to port
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