Russian missile strikes cargo ship carrying grain in Black Sea

Source: Ukraine’s Navy

Russian forces struck a civilian vessel  in the Black Sea on the night of September 12. The Ukrainian Navy reports that the attack, which occurred at 11:03 pm, involved cruise missiles—likely the Kh-22—launched from Russian Tu-22 aircraft. The bulk carrier AYA, flying the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis, was hit while leaving Ukrainian territorial waters. It was carrying grain from Ukraine’s Chornomorsk port to Egypt.

The photos that later emereged on social media show the ship took serious damage.

In its statement on the attack, the Ukrainian Navy has blasted Moscow for continuing to flout the rules of war and jeopardize global food security.

President Volodymyr Zelensky also weighed in, confirming that the Russian missile hit the civilian ship shortly after it left Ukrainian waters.

“Our food supply to Africa and the Middle East is critical,” Zelensky stressed, highlighting Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to protect its ports and ensure grain reaches the global market. “This is a top priority for us—protecting lives and securing food supplies—and it should be a top priority for the world, too.”

Zelensky called for swift international action, emphasizing that food security and wheat must never become targets in this brutal conflict.

After the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine witnessed an unprecedented wave of private support for the army. Citizens, big businesses, charitable foundations, and international philanthropists began financing the country’s defense alongside state assistance provided by international partners. Estimates of total private contributions range from tens to hundreds of billions of hryvnias. However, determining the exact amount remains difficult. In many cases, companies combine military aid, humanitarian programs, tax payments, social spending, and employee support in their reporting.

Rinat Akhmetov’s military initiative, “Steel Front”, has delivered a batch of drones worth UAH 214 million to the 1st “Azov” Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine. This shipment is part of the Metinvest Group’s ongoing support for the unit in 2025.

On October 6, the Administrative Cassation Court within the Supreme Court of Ukraine continued hearing case No. 990/80/25, in which the fifth President and leader of the party “European Solidarity”, Petro Poroshenko, seeks to have Presidential Decree No. 81/2025 from February 12, 2025 — enacting sanctions by the decision of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) — declared illegal and annulled. The plaintiff claims the document was falsified and that the sanctions are a tool of political persecution of the opposition, contrary to international norms. Government representatives deny the allegations and insist their actions were lawful. Journalists of Bukvy were present at the hearing.

Rinat Akhmetov’s Metinvest Group has completed the construction of an upgraded underground NATO Role 2 hospital in one of the hottest sectors of the frontline. This is the second stabilization point established under the Steel Front initiative in cooperation with the Medical Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The new facility, funded by Metinvest with an investment of UAH 21 million, is more secure than the first one thanks to its deeper location underground (over 6 meters) and additional fortifications.

Five armored vehicles “Kozak” have received a new mission – thanks to the support of Metinvest, they have been upgraded to full-fledged command and staff vehicles. These upgraded vehicles are now operating on the front line.