A crew member onboard a Japanese-owned cargo ship was injured when a Russian missile hit the vessel as it was heading towards Ukraine’s southern coast.

The incident happened on Friday, February 25, while the Panama-registered Namura Queen was plying the waters near a port in the Odessa region. Staff onboard the vessel were allegedly unaware of missile warnings and were leaving the area when they were hit by the shell that set part of the ship on fire.

A Filipino seafarer reportedly sustained non-fatal injuries to his shoulder.

Ukrainian port firm Stark Shipping said: ‘The ship flying the flag of Panama was heading to the Pivdennyi port (ex. Yuzhny) to load grain … There was a fire on the ship, the P&O STAR tug moved to the rescue. The situation is under control.’

The Namura Queen has since left for Turkey and will be assessed for damages once it docks.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine’s Donbas region last week. He said in a public address on February 24: ‘We decided to launch a special military action aimed at demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine.’

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has pleaded for peace but added that Ukraine will defend itself from any invasion attempts.

He said: ‘If they attack, if they try to take our county – our freedom, our lives, the lives of our children – we will be defending ourselves.’