Turkish operated vessel carrying grain hit by Russian missile in Black Sea
Image shows the aftermath in the MV Aya, a Türkiye operated ship carrying grain hit by Russian missile in Black Sea. (Photo via Naval News)
A Turkish-operated merchant vessel, carrying grain, the MV Aya, was struck by a Russian Kh-22 missile on the night of Sept. 11, while sailing in the Black Sea.
The missile reportedly fired from a Russian Tu-22M Backfire bomber, hit the vessel approximately 75 kilometers (46 miles) south of Snake Island, within the Romanian exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The Belize-owned, St. Kitts & Nevis-flagged ship was transporting 26,550 tons of grain bound for Egypt from the Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk.
Details of missile strike on Black Sea
According to sources familiar with the incident, the Kh-22 missile hit the MV Aya at around 11:05 p.m. local time. This missile, known by its NATO reporting name AS-4 “Kitchen,” is a large supersonic anti-ship missile developed during the Cold War. It flies at Mach 4.6 (5,600 kilometers per hour or 3,500 miles per hour) and carries a 1,000-kilogram (2,205 pounds) warhead, making it significantly more powerful than other anti-ship missiles like Harpoon or Exocet.
After sustaining damage to its port side, including a cargo hold and crane, the vessel changed course toward the Romanian port of Constanta. Fortunately, none of the 23 crew members were reported injured.
Escalation concerns amid global food security risks
The attack on the civilian grain ship has raised concerns about further escalation in the region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the incident, stating, “Russian missile against a wheat cargo bound for Egypt. Tonight, Russia launched a strike on an ordinary civilian vessel in the Black Sea right after it left Ukrainian territorial waters. Fortunately, there were no casualties, according to preliminary reports.”
While Russia has systematically targeted Ukrainian grain export infrastructure since the expiry of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, this is the first time a missile has directly struck a civilian grain ship during the ongoing conflict. Civilian vessels are protected under international law, including the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which ensures the safety of navigation for peaceful purposes.
Reactions to attack on civilian ship
The international community reacted strongly to the attack. U.S. Ambassador Bridget Brink condemned the missile strike, writing on X (formerly Twitter), “We strongly condemn Russia’s attack on a commercial cargo ship in the Black Sea last night. This escalatory attack is a blatant violation of international law that threatens global food security.”
U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric also criticized the attack, stating, “Attacks on civilian vessels and port infrastructure are prohibited under international law and must stop. Ensuring the safety and sustainability of agricultural exports passing through the Black Sea remains critical for supporting global food security and keeping global prices under control.”
Ship tracking data indicated the vessel’s last known location is now in Marmara Sea, Türkiye.
