Russia said Monday that its forces had struck a cargo vessel in the Black Sea, adding to growing concerns over the safety of commercial shipping as Moscow and Kyiv intensify attacks on maritime and port infrastructure.

The Russian Defense Ministry said the vessel was hit Monday afternoon, hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for a diplomatic approach to the escalating attacks and said Ukraine would strengthen its air defenses in the Black Sea.

The incident came amid a sharp deterioration in security for commercial vessels operating in the region. Ukraine has accused Russia of escalating attacks against ships and port facilities in an effort to disrupt the country's maritime exports, while Moscow has accused Kyiv of targeting Russian shipping and grain infrastructure.

The latest reported strike follows a series of attacks on commercial vessels in recent weeks.

On Aug. 21, the container ship RMS Team, sailing toward Novorossiysk, was attacked by a drone. The 12-member crew abandoned the vessel after fires broke out aboard, with 11 crew members rescued and one still missing, according to maritime industry reports. The vessel and its cargo were subsequently considered potentially a constructive total loss.

Several grain vessels operating near Russian Black Sea ports have also been hit. Reports earlier this month said at least five vessels carrying or preparing to load grain near Novorossiysk and Tuapse had come under attack, highlighting the growing risks to agricultural exports through the region.

Ukraine said Monday that it had appealed to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) over what it described as an escalation in Russian attacks on civilian shipping. Kyiv said Russia had attacked 52 vessels, mainly bulk carriers transporting cargo to and from Ukrainian ports, during July and the first half of August.

The latest incident also came as Kyiv pushed for an agreement to protect civilian shipping in the Black Sea.

Zelenskyy said Russia had rejected a Ukrainian proposal for a truce covering attacks on vessels transporting agricultural products. According to the Ukrainian president, Moscow wanted any arrangement to also prevent Ukrainian strikes against Russian refineries and energy infrastructure.

Zelenskyy has argued that any agreement should be reciprocal and include guarantees against attacks on Ukraine's energy system.

Kyiv has also offered to coordinate with Türkiye on measures to improve the safety of civilian shipping in the Black Sea, where Turkish-owned and Turkish-flagged vessels have been among those affected by the escalating hostilities.

The attacks are raising concerns beyond the immediate military confrontation, particularly over grain exports from two of the world's major agricultural producers.

Russia has said it is taking measures to limit the impact of Ukrainian attacks on its grain-export operations after damage to Black Sea port infrastructure disrupted shipments. The Kremlin said it was working to ensure that Russian grain exports continue despite the attacks.

The expanding pattern of attacks on ships, ports and energy infrastructure has increased pressure for measures to protect commercial navigation in the Black Sea.

With both sides continuing to accuse each other of threatening civilian and commercial shipping, the latest reported strike underscores the growing difficulty of maintaining safe maritime trade while the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues. (ILKHA)