According to the Kyiv Post, on July 3rd local time, Odessa seaport was hit by a missile attack, resulting in two fatalities and six injuries, including two crew members aboard a Syrian cargo ship.

A missile of the "Iskander" type hit a loading area where workers were busy unloading metal from a cargo ship registered in São Tomé and Príncipe. The casualties included a dock worker and a truck driver.

The injured individuals include port staff and two Syrian crew members. Fortunately, all injured parties are currently receiving medical treatment and are in stable condition.

This attack caused serious damage to multiple port facilities, including cranes, warehouses, dock equipment, and containers. Photos show damaged containers scattered around and vehicles destroyed.

Earlier that day, the Ukrainian Air Force had issued an alert regarding potential ballistic missile threats from Crimea. Shortly after, Odessa was hit by a missile attack. Earlier in the morning, the city also faced other attacks, with one missile hitting an apartment building, causing a fire and injuring residents.

Additionally, overnight, a Russian drone attacked Odessa, hitting a residential building and injuring six civilians, including two children aged 7 and 9.

In Poltava, another Russian drone launched an attack, resulting in two fatalities and at least 11 injuries. This attack caused fires at the Poltava city's conscription center and nearby residences, leading to the evacuation of 10 individuals from these hazardous areas.

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Reconstruction Oleksiy Kuleba strongly condemned these attacks, noting that Russia has been targeting Ukrainian ports in recent years, attempting to disrupt the crucial transportation networks necessary for exports.

Kuleba highlighted some concerning statistics, pointing out that in just the first three months of 2024, Russian attacks had destroyed approximately 300 port facilities, as well as numerous vehicles and civilian vessels, resulting in casualties among workers involved in logistics operations.

He emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety of international waters and called for global concerted action to address Russia's ongoing attacks on civilian infrastructure.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Kuleba also echoed similar sentiments, describing the missile attack as equivalent to war crimes committed by Moscow, noting that Russia continues its terror actions instead of seeking peace or ceasefire solutions. He called on the international community to further increase pressure on Russia's actions.

Odessa is a vital hub for Ukrainian exports, handling around 90% of the export business, including significant quantities of critical food and metal products locally and globally.

Since the establishment of safer shipping routes in September last year, the Odessa port alone has exported over 101 million tons of food goods, with nearly 79 million tons being grains.