A Russian hypersonic missile reportedly struck a Panama-flagged cargo ship in Odesa shortly after its arrival, Ukrainian officials said Sunday. The attack injured two port workers and caused significant damage to infrastructure, according to local authorities.
Russia claimed responsibility for the strike, alleging the MSC Levante was transporting military equipment to Ukraine. Ukrainian officials have not confirmed these claims.
The Russian Telegram channel *Talipov Online* reported that the vessel had loaded additional containers in Turkey, allegedly containing British sea drones and NATO-supplied weaponry. The ship was hit by two missiles at berth number two around 6 p.m., according to the report. Following the explosion, the cargo was destroyed, and the ship sank.
Images circulating on social media purportedly show the vessel in Odesa before the strike. While reports suggest the ship was carrying military supplies for Kyiv, these claims remain unverified.
Odesa regional governor Oleg Kiper confirmed a missile attack on port infrastructure and a civilian vessel. “The enemy fired a ballistic missile at Odesa, damaging the port and a ship under the flag of Panama, owned by a European company,” he said.
Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba later confirmed that a second vessel was also hit. President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that at least 20 foreign merchant ships have been damaged in previous Russian attacks.
The strike comes ahead of a critical NATO summit in London, where European leaders will discuss military aid and diplomatic efforts for Ukraine. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the UK, France, and Ukraine are working on a ceasefire proposal to present to U.S. President Donald Trump in an effort to revive stalled peace talks.
Starmer, who recently met with Zelensky at 10 Downing Street, reaffirmed the UK’s support for Ukraine. “Britain will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes,” he said.
The London summit is expected to address broader European defense cooperation, including discussions on the potential deployment of a European military force to Ukraine. Key NATO and EU leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, are attending.
As tensions escalate, European allies seek to maintain unity in supporting Ukraine while navigating complex diplomatic negotiations with the U.S. and Russia.
