What Crew Members Say About Wael-K

On January 9, 2026, a tragic incident unfolded in the Ukrainian Sea Corridor when Russian forces targeted two cargo vessels, resulting in the death of one seafarer and injuries to another. The first vessel, the 'Wael K', was en route to Chornomorsk to load a shipment of grain when it was struck by a Russian drone, impacting its upper structure. The second mate, a Syrian national, sustained injuries and promptly received medical care. Fortunately, the 'Wael K' managed to maintain power and continued to navigate towards the nearest port for safe anchorage. Simultaneously, the bulk carrier 'Ladonna' came under fire while docked at the Great Odesa port complex, where it was loading soybeans. Oleksiy Kuleba, a senior regional official, confirmed the loss of one crew member, also a Syrian citizen, who succumbed to injuries sustained during the assault. Kuleba condemned the attack, labeling it a war crime. For further details, view the reports with images at the following links: https://maritime-executive.com/article/seafarers-killed-and-injured-as-russia-strikes-two-ships-near-ukraine and https://caliber.az/en/post/russia-strikes-civilian-ships-near-ukrainian-ports-killing-syrian-crew-member.