One person was killed and two others were missing after a cargo ship, carrying wheat, sank on the Sea of Azov, according to a 'Russian-installed' official.

Vladimir Saldo is the leader installed by Moscow in the Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine's Kherson Region. He said that the attack took place on Friday, but the crew members could not tell anyone what happened until Sunday.

Saldo posted on Telegram that "it became?known' that the Kyiv government was responsible for the sinking of Volgo-Balt at the 'Sea of Azov.

He said the crew abandoned the ship, and they were only able to reach the shore on Sunday near the village Strilkove.

He added that two people are still missing and an aide of the captain has died. An investigation is underway. The captain was recovering in hospital.

This is not the first time that Ukraine has attacked a merchant vessel in neutral waters. "There will be a reaction to this crime," said?Saldo.

He said in an earlier post that nine crew members were found alive?on the coast - all Russian citizens.

Kherson was annexed by Russia more than six months after the Russian invasion in 2022. Russian forces are able to 'hold a little bit more than 70% of Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson in the south. (Reporting and editing by Hugh Lawson; Christina Fincher, Ron Popeski, Mark Porter, and Hugh Lawson)

(source: Reuters)