Ukraine says Russian ships are now a target after seven people die in city blast

08 August 2023 , 19:18

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Pokrovsk after the attacks (Image: STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE OF UKRAINE HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Ukraine last night said Russian ships in the Black Sea, including tankers carrying millions of barrels of oil to Europe, are now justifiable targets for attack.

Its claim came as terrified Ukrainians fled for safety from Russian bombs and missiles raining down on key sites. In the eastern city of Pokrovsk at least seven people were killed. On Saturday a Ukrainian sea drone loaded with nearly 1,000lb of TNT blasted a hole in a Russian oil tanker. The engine room was hit, disabling the 463ft Sig in the Black Sea off Crimea. The crew of 11 was unharmed.

Oleg Ustenko, economic adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky, said: “Everything the Russians are moving back and forth on the Black Sea are our valid military targets.” He said it would be retaliation for Russia withdrawing from the UN-brokered Black Sea grain deal and unleashing missile attacks on agricultural stores and ports.

A victim of Pokrovsk rocket blast (STANISLAV KRUPAR/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

He said: “This started with Russia blocking the grain corridor, threatening our vessels, destroying our ports. Our maritime infrastructure is under constant attack.” Two missiles hit Pokrovsk, the second as rescuers were searching for victims of the first. Two children were among the 30-plus civilians injured. Homes, administrative buildings and a hotel were damaged and destroyed.

China’s top diplomat Wang Yi told his Russian counterpart Beijing remains “impartial” on the war in Ukraine, a day after China took part in international talks on ending the conflict that included Kyiv, but not Moscow. But Wang said to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that China and Russia are “trustworthy and reliable good friends and partners."

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