site.btaMerchant Ship Sailors Injured in Russian Drone Strike in Odesa Region

Sailors aboard a merchant ship were injured in a Russian drone strike in the Black Sea off Ukraine's Odesa Region, Oleh Kiper, Head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration, said on his Telegram channel.

"On the evening of March 4, a Russian drone struck a Panamanian-flagged civilian ship in the Black Sea as it was leaving the port of Chornomorsk. The vessel was carrying maize. Crew members were injured in the attack and steps were taken to provide assistance and evacuate them," Kiper said.

Overnight, Russian forces attacked the southern part of Odesa Region with drones, with the main strike targeting Zatoka, local Telegram channels reported. "As a result of the attack, a fire broke out on the grounds of a non-operational recreation centre. The flames engulfed wooden cottages and a four-storey building was partially destroyed. Public transport infrastructure was damaged," Kiper said, adding that there were no casualties.

Bulgarians in Odesa Region number more than 150,000 and were the third largest population group in Ukraine in 2001, according to the official census. About 50,000 - 60,000 Bulgarians live in the city of Odesa. The largest compact Bulgarian population is concentrated in the Bolhrad, Izmail and Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi districts.