“Attack on food security”: Russia strikes Turkish vessel carrying Ukrainian sunflower oil to Egypt
The Naval Forces of Ukraine reported that Russia carried out an attack on a civilian vessel on December 13, 2025, transporting Ukrainian sunflower oil to Egypt.
“The Russian Federation launched a targeted strike using a UAV on the Turkish vessel VIVA, which was heading to Egypt with sunflower oil on board,” the statement reads.
According to the Ukrainian Navy, the passage at sea was taking place via the grain corridor. There are 11 citizens of the Republic of Türkiye on the vessel.
Russians struck the vessel in the open sea within Ukraine’s exclusive economic zone, outside the range of Ukrainian air defense, the report noted.
The Ukrainian Navy pointed out that the Russian Federation is blatantly and cynically violating the norms of international maritime law. Such actions directly contradict the fundamental principles of freedom of navigation and are a flagrant violation of the San Remo Manual.
“Currently, the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are in contact with the captain, and the maritime search and rescue service is ready to provide assistance if necessary,” the statement says.
The crew was not injured, and the vessel is heading to its port of destination.
The strike on the civilian vessel was commented on by the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He called it “an attack on food security”.
“The ship, owned by Türkiye, was carrying food. Striking such vessels that have nothing to do with the war is a direct challenge from Russia to the entire world. We will figure out with our partners how to respond to this. There will be a response,” he said in his evening address.
By way of background, on the night of December 13, Russians conducted a massive combined attack with attack drones and missiles on Odesa. Authorities reported damage to civilian objects, energy, and industrial infrastructure.
On the evening of December 12, Russia struck Odesa and the region with ballistic missiles and drones. As a result of the attack, a civilian vessel in the port of Chornomorsk was damaged, and one person was injured. The vessel belongs to a Turkish company. There was also damage to civilian and port infrastructure.
You may also want to read: Africa faces vulnerabilities from Russia’s war on Ukraine
Earlier, Vitaliy Koval, the Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food, told Ukrinform that approximately 60% of Ukraine’s export revenue is provided by farmers and agricultural processors, and Ukrainian food supports 400 million people worldwide.
He said that farmers in Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, and other regions, who frequently endure enemy shelling, are producing vast amounts of crops and playing a crucial role in ensuring international food security.
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