Russian Missiles Kill Ten on a Grain Ship Off Odesa
A Russian cruise-missile strike on the Golden Leo, a bulk carrier laden with corn, killed at least ten as it left Odesa — the deadliest attack yet in a widening Black Sea campaign. The dead included nine foreign crew from Syria and India and a Ukrainian port pilot. In retaliation, Ukraine launched more than 400 drones at the Moscow region overnight, striking an oil depot and wounding at least ten people.
Ukraine’s ports authority says Russia struck 23 port facilities and 17 civilian vessels in the first fortnight of July alone, and analysts warn the campaign has cut about a third of the country’s Black Sea grain-export capacity — a threat to global food supply. Moscow’s mayor said 85 drones were downed approaching the capital, with three of the wounded said to be Chinese nationals. Both sides are now targeting each other’s maritime revenue and energy infrastructure far beyond the front line. Watch insurance and freight costs on Black Sea grain routes, which feed into world food prices.