Ukrainian media published photos of a product tanker that was allegedly hit by cluster submunition and damaged, on June 1.
According to information, a single submunition hit the tanker Brentix towards the bow on the morning of June 1. The explosion appears to have penetrated the deck and the side of the hull in way of a pump room, causing damage to hull plating and piping. The blast sparked a fire, but was extinguished quickly.
The vessel was in ballast condition at the time of the attack, and no pollution or injuries were reported.
Russian sources confirmed an attack on Ochakov’s port area on the same day as the blast aboard the Brentix. In fact, Russian military-aligned Telegram channels claimed that a successful rocket attack took place against two Ukrainian missile boats at the port of Ochakov.
Recently, the Russian defence ministry said that civil vessels may safely use the Azov Sea port of Mariupol in Ukraine as the danger from mines has been eliminated.
According to the Russian ministry, a maritime humanitarian corridor was opened on May 25, in the Azov Sea.
We remind that sea mines were reported in the Black Sea. In fact, London P&I Club had informed about three recent reports of sea mines drifting in the area.
As it was mentioned, on 26 March, an unidentified floating object similar to a mine or a bomb was sighted by a Turkish fishing vessel reported at the vicinity of anchorage area for bulk carrier vessels at Istanbul Strait north anchorage area.
Furthermore, on March 28, Turkish and Romanian responders neutralized more Soviet-era Sea mines that were found drifting in the Black Sea.