Ukrainian ship captain killed in Russian strike on Odesa

A Russian attack on a commercial cargo ship in Ukraine's southern Black Sea port of Odesa killed its captain, Ukrainian authorities have said.

Attacks on commercial vessels have multiplied in recent months as Russia and Ukraine seek to damage each other's export revenues, with the war now into its fifth year.

"The enemy targeted a commercial cargo ship sailing under the flag of Antigua and Barbuda," the head of the Odesa region, Oleg Kiper, said.

He added: "The captain of the ship, a Ukrainian citizen, was killed."

The ship was sailing on the Black Sea when it came under fire, the Ukrainian Sea Port Authority said.

At least 226 civilian and commercial vessels have been hit on the Black Sea since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Turkey's IMEAK chamber of shipping said.

However, 70% of the attacks took place in the first eight months of this year.

Turkey has sent a proposal to Russia and Ukraine to end strikes on civilian ships but the two foes have failed to act on it.

Rubio to meet Russian counterpart Lavrov on sidelines of UN

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the State Department said yesterday.

The meeting comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is due to address the United Nations.

US President Donald Trump also met with Mr Zelensky in New York yesterday.

The Ukrainian leader told reporters that he is ready to halt strikes on Russian energy sites if Russia also agrees to do so.

However, Mr Zelensky said he did not know Russia's position, and expressed hope the "American side will find a way...to bring them to any kind of negotiations."

War has raged since Russia launched its all-out invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Washington's efforts to end the hostilities have stalled in recent months.

Meanwhile, Russia and Ukraine have been engaged in intensifying long-range strikes targeting a growing number of civilian sites, including factories, warehouses and energy and port infrastructure, as well as ships in the Black Sea.