Ukraine said yesterday that a Russian drone strike hit a civilian cargo ship in the Black Sea port of Chornomorsk late on Wednesday, wounding several crew members.

Throughout the four-year war, Kyiv has accused Moscow of repeatedly attacking cargo vessels transporting food products to and from its ports on the Black Sea.

“On the evening of March 4, a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) strike on a civilian vessel sailing under the Panamanian flag was recorded in the Black Sea waters as it was leaving the port of Chornomorsk,” said Odesa regional military governor Oleg Kiper.

“The vessel was carrying corn. As a result of the attack, some crew members were wounded,” he said, adding that the crew had been evacuated.

Moscow has warned that any ship sailing towards Ukrainian ports may be treated as carrying military cargo.