Guinea-Bissau-flagged cargo ship sinks after being struck by Russia near Ukraine's port of Odesa

ODESA, Ukraine – An international cargo vessel sank off the coast of Ukraine's Black Sea port of Odesa on Sunday, a week after Ukrainian officials said it had been struck by Russian forces.

Ukraine's ports authority said the Golden Leo, sailing under the Guinea-Bissau flag, went down near the port. Authorities said nine crew members were killed in the attack, while eight others were safely evacuated.

The vessel had departed the port of Chornomorsk carrying a cargo of corn when it was shelled by Russian forces on July 19, causing extensive damage, according to the ports authority.

The ship was traveling through a maritime corridor established by Ukraine along its Black Sea coast toward Romania when it was attacked.

Ukraine's ports authority condemned the strike, saying it violated international maritime law and put the lives of civilian crew members at risk.

A Reuters witness in Odesa saw smoke rising from a large vessel off the coast at the time of the attack. Russia has not publicly commented on the incident.

Russia has intensified its attacks in recent weeks on Ukraine's deepwater ports in the south, which handle much of the country's grain exports and other critical cargo, as the war enters its fifth year. -Reporting by Ron Popeski; Editing by Chris Reese/Reuters