A Turkish cargo ship was hit by a missile in the city of Kherson in the south of Ukraine, after the hit, a strong fire broke out on board, Reuters reports.

A missile reportedly hit the control deck of the Tuzla cargo ship on Tuesday, shipping company Ambrey said, and the video shows flames engulfing the ship’s control room.

Reuters notes that it has been able to confirm that the fire, which was first reported on social networks, did indeed occur on board this vessel in Kherson, and the information is confirmed based on satellite images and information about the Turkish vessel.

Reuters reporters, however, note that they could not independently confirm whether the incident actually happened on Tuesday.

The vessel, which has been stuck in Kherson since February 2022 when Russian President Vladimir Putin launched an invasion of Ukraine, is operated by Caveli Shipping, which declined to comment on the situation.

Several Turkish cargo ships are blocked in Ukraine

A source in the maritime industry told Reuters that 12 Turkish ships were stuck in Ukrainian ports, one of which was in Kherson.

These vessels are not subject to the agreement between Moscow and Kyiv on unblocking the export of grain through Ukrainian ports, as they are cargo vessels carrying general cargo.

“There was an attack last night, most likely in the port, and it appears that an explosive device hit the ship. Turkish ships in Kherson are manned by a minimal crew, so there are no injuries or casualties,” a source told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Russian forces launched several missile strikes on Kherson after its liberation by Ukrainian forces on November 11. One of the largest attacks occurred on Christmas Eve, killing at least 10 and injuring 58.

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