**Russia Strikes Odesa Port Facility, Killing Two and Injuring Eight**
On May 23, Russian forces launched a devastating attack on the port facility in Odesa, killing two civilians and injuring at least eight others. The strike, carried out using Iskander-M ballistic missiles, is just one of many attacks on Ukrainian ports since Russia’s full-scale invasion.
**A Critical Infrastructure Targeted**
The Odesa port region is a crucial part of Ukraine’s economy, handling 60% of the country’s exports and processing over 28 million tons of cargo in 2025 alone. The facility supplies grain to countries such as Spain, China, and Romania, and also helps feed vulnerable populations in Africa and Asia.
**War Crime or Not?**
Ukrainian Minister for Development of Communities and Territories Oleksii Kuleba has strongly condemned the attack, calling it a “blatant war crime.” The minister emphasized that the port facility has no military use, making the strike all the more unjustifiable. “Once again, Russia has struck a peaceful, strategically important facility — one that plays a key role in global food security,” he said.
**Investigation Launched**
Ukraine has launched a criminal investigation into the attack, which killed two men, including a 40-year-old employee of a private company. The investigation will likely shed more light on the motivations behind this and other attacks on Ukrainian ports.
**Kyiv’s Search for Defensive Capabilities**
In an effort to prevent similar attacks in the future, Kyiv is searching for Patriot air defense systems and their missiles. These are the only weapons in Ukraine’s arsenal capable of downing ballistic missiles like those used by Russian forces. The search has been ongoing, but the US has yet to deliver any Patriot batteries to Ukraine due to a policy of isolationism.
**The Human Toll**
Since Russia’s invasion began, nearly 400 port facilities and over 30 civilian vessels have been hit, resulting in 106 civilian casualties. Today’s attack is just one more example of the devastating impact on civilians caught in the midst of this conflict.
