Four feared dead as Estonian cargo ship ‘used by Russia as human shield’ SINKS after ‘hitting mine’ off Ukraine coast
FOUR sailors are feared dead after a container ship reportedly hit a mine and sank today in the Black Sea.
Ukraine claimed the Russian Navy forced the cargo vessel to divert into a danger zone so they could use it as a “human shield”.
The Estonia-owned Helt sank off the port of Odessa after an explosion, shipping agents said.
Two crew members were in a life raft at sea while four others were unaccounted for.
Igor Ilves of Tallinn-based Vista Shipping Agency told Reuters: “The vessel has finally sunk.
“Two of the crew are in a raft on the water and four others are missing.
“I don’t know where they are at the moment.”
The strategic port Odessa has come under heavy fire from Vladimir Putin’s invasion force, and there have been claims of attempted amphibious landings.
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Ukraine’s military claimed Russia had forced the Panama-flagged Helt to divert so they could use it to cover the movement of warships.
“For the safety of civil navigation, the Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine closed navigation in the north-western part of the Black Sea,” the General Staff of the Armed Forces said.
“At the same time, the Russian Black Sea Fleet continues the tactics of Russian ground forces trying to hide behind civilian lives.”
Ukraine also claimed the Russian fleet had fired on two other civilian ships on February 24, the day the full-scale invasion began.
Turkish bulk carrier Yasa Jupiter and Japanese cargo vessel the Namura Queen were both damaged – reportedly by shells or missiles – and later docked for repairs.
Russia claims the two ships were hit by Ukraine’s forces.
On Friday Moldovan chemical tanker Millenial Spirit, sailing under a Romania flag, was damaged on the way to Odessa.
Pictures online showed a large hole blown in the side, allegedly from a Russian missile.
The Russian crew were rescued, and Russia again blamed Ukraine for the strike.
Bombing continued today in Odessa, where a Russian aircraft was reportedly shot down.
On Tuesday it was claimed Russian marines mutinied and refused to fight as a fleet lined up for an aborted beach assault.