Ukraine has requested an emergency session of the UN Security Council on 27 July following a series of Russian strikes on civilian cargo vessels in the Black Sea. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Moscow of bombing at least three civilian freighters in recent days, including a propane carrier hit near the port of Reni that wounded three sailors.
The escalation has drawn international condemnation after four Indian crew members were killed in a suspected cruise missile attack on a vessel departing Odesa. India summoned the Russian chargé d'affaires and Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar conveyed strong concerns to his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russian forces would continue targeting ships suspected of carrying weapons for Ukraine.
The attacks have effectively choked maritime traffic, with no ships passing through Ukraine's Black Sea corridor on Wednesday. Shipping giant Maersk has temporarily suspended operations at a terminal in Chornomorsk.