Black Sea strikes push toll higher as cargo ships come under fire

Ten people were killed when a Russian cruise missile strike hit a Guinea-Bissau-flagged cargo ship off Odesa, raising the toll to nine crew members and one pilot; four Indian nationals are among the dead. The attack highlights a surge in assaults on Black Sea cargo traffic intended to disrupt Ukraine’s export corridor. Kyiv says it will bolster navigation safety as both sides press strikes in the region, with Odesa remaining a critical yet vulnerable export hub.