Ukraine accused Russia on Sept 12 of using strategic bombers to strike a civilian grain vessel in a missile attack in Black Sea waters near Nato member Romania, escalating tensions between Moscow and the military alliance, Paralel.Az reports citing The Strait Times.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the vessel carrying Ukrainian grain to Egypt had been hit overnight by a Russian missile just after it left Ukrainian territorial waters.

There were no casualties, he said.

There was no immediate comment from Russia.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the strike was “a brazen attack on freedom of navigation and global food security”.