A Japanese-owned cargo ship was hit by a missile off the coast of Ukraine in the Black Sea on Friday, lightly injuring one crew member, CNN reports.
The official added that there were 20 crew members on board.
According to a statement released on the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense’s Facebook page on Saturday, preliminary reports indicate the missile was fired by Russian forces and hit the stern of “Namura Queen” cargo ship on Friday.
“The tugboat ‘P&O STAR’ has come to the rescue. The situation is under control,” the post said. It added that the ship was sailing under the Panamanian flag, and heading to Pivdennyy port.
Japan’s public broadcaster NHK reported Saturday that the “Namura Queen” crew are all safe. According to a website that tracks ships’ positions, the vessel is currently en route to Istanbul, Turkey.
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry also reported that a different ship was shelled by a Russian warship on Friday. The vessel, “Millenial Spirit,” was sailing under the Moldovan flag, and carried 600 tons of fuel oil and diesel onboard when it was struck. Two crew members were seriously injured as a result, according to the ministry.
