by Manal Barakat, SeaNewsEditor

A Russian missile strike targeted the Port of Odessa, Ukraine, causing damage to two commercial ships, one identified as MSC Levante F.

In a Telegram post, the regional government reported that the attack "damaged port infrastructure and a civilian vessel under the flag of the Republic of Panama, owned by a European company."

According to a report by The Maritime Executive, Odessa's Governor Oleh Kiper confirmed that two port employees were injured in the attack, and MSC's feeder vessel sustained damage from the blast.

Due to earlier Russian strikes on civilian ships, the port of Odessa had been closed for a long time and had just recently reopened for container cargo.

The extent of the damage to the 1,118-TEU MSC Levante F remains unclear. The attack has further impacted the already heavily damaged infrastructure at the port.