Russia attacked a Tanzanian-flagged civilian ship in the Black Sea, killing its captain, Ukraine said Thursday, as fighting drags on and Moscow escalates attacks.
Russia has hit Ukrainian ports and ships in the Black Sea throughout its more than four-and-a-half-year invasion, massively restricting shipping and further crippling Kyiv's economy.
"A vessel sailing under the flag of Tanzania was attacked by a Russian drone while en route to one of the Ukrainian ports," Ukraine's Sea Port Authority said.
"As a result of the strike, the ship's captain was killed and three other crew members were wounded," it added.
It did not say what nationality the captain was.
Russia has in recent months increased strikes and attacks on Ukraine, regularly targeting the southern Odesa region, and massively restricting civilian and cargo maritime traffic in the area.
Ukraine is heavily reliant on its ports for trade and has had to redirect some goods it would normally ship by sea through land routes.
Kyiv has also increased its sea strikes at sea, particularly targeting the Azov Sea.
The UN has warned that civilian deaths in the war have significantly increased amid the heightened attacks as efforts to end the conflict remain deadlocked.