Three Filipinos onboard a civilian-vessel on Black Sea were injured after it was hit by a missile that Ukrainian officials said was carried by Russia.
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega said Thursday, Nov. 9, the Filipino victims are now out of danger after one of them was taken to a Ukrainian hospital while the two were treated onboard.
They were an engine trainee whose left hand was fractured, a captain who sustained minor injuries, and a third mate who also sustained minor injuries.
Ukrainian officials said a Russian missile hit the Liberian-flagged KMAX RULER vessel of the Filipino seafarers as they were entering a Black Sea port in Ukraine’s Odesa region on Wednesday.
The civilian vessel was carrying iron ore to China when it was hit, Oleksandr Kubrakov, Ukraine's Minister of Infrastructure, said in a post on X.
The pilot of the vessel was killed by the blast, while another one was also hurt, according to De Vega.
"This is already the 21st targeted attack by Russia after it left the grain agreement [Black Sea Grain Initiative]. During this time, the terrorist country damaged more than 160 infrastructure facilities including 122 vehicles," Kubrakov said.