Russian strikes damage German business assets in Ukraine
Photo: Russia's attacks in the Black Sea have also affected German companies (Getty Images)
As a result of Russian attacks on August 5, a ship and warehouses belonging to the German companies Liqui Moly and Puma in Ukraine were damaged, as well as a cargo ship in the Black Sea, according to Deutsche Welle.
Ship in Black Sea
The German bulk carrier Emil was struck by several Russian drones in the Black Sea near Odesa, according to the newspaper Bild. As a result of the Russian attack, several technical systems failed, the ship lost its ability to maneuver, and a fire broke out on board. The attack took place on August 5, when the ship was approximately 21 nautical miles from the port of Odesa.
The crew was evacuated, but during the evacuation, another drone struck the ship. According to unconfirmed reports, no one was injured. There were no German citizens among the crew members. The bulk carrier sails under the Liberian flag but is owned by the Hamburg-based shipping company Johann M.K. Blumenthal.
The second vessel affected was the dry cargo ship Mera Queen, carrying grain and flying the flag of Guinea-Bissau; one crew member was killed as a result of the Russian strike, according to Ukrainian authorities.
The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed strikes on two cargo ships, without naming them, claiming that they were transporting military equipment for the Ukrainian army.
Liqui Moly warehouse in Kyiv
On the same day, during the Russian attack on Kyiv, one of the targets was a warehouse belonging to the German company Liqui Moly, based in Ulm, which manufactures lubricants. No one was injured as a result of the attack and the subsequent fire, and the damage is estimated at several million euros, according to company representative Sina Atay.
According to Liqui Moly, the facility that was destroyed was the company’s distributor’s central warehouse in Ukraine, where, among other things, products for the Ukrainian market were stored. There are currently no plans to rebuild the warehouse.
The company representative says that together, they are working to minimize the impact of the incident and continue to ensure deliveries to our customers.
The situation surrounding the attacks on civilian shipping in the Black Sea has also raised concerns at the international level—on July 27, the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting specifically because of the attacks on civilian vessels, which threaten global food security.
Acting Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, emphasized at the time that Russia was attempting to turn the Black Sea into a hotbed of destabilization by deliberately attacking civilian merchant ships.
The economic consequences of these attacks are already being felt—due to attacks on port infrastructure and foreign commercial vessels, Ukrainian maritime exports have almost come to a halt.
