Russian forces struck a Turkish-owned LPG ship, the Orinda, while it was anchored at the port of Ismail in Ukraine, near Odessa and close to the Romanian border.

Local authorities have warned that the situation is extremely critical, as the ship could “explode at any moment.”

According to TurkiyeToday, the ship was carrying approximately 4,000 tons of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). The attack caused a fire, prompting the evacuation of nearby areas for safety reasons.

All 16 crew members evacuated safely

The General Directorate of Maritime Affairs of Turkey confirmed that all 16 members of the Turkish crew were safely evacuated from the vessel. None were injured and they have been moved to a secure location, according to the announcement.

Ukrainian firefighting teams rushed to the scene, with authorities stating that the damage will be assessed once the fire is fully under control. Turkish officials added that they are closely monitoring the situation and are in contact with the relevant Ukrainian authorities.

Evacuation of a village in the area

Meanwhile, Romanian authorities have also gone on alert, evacuating the village of Plauru as the flames approached within approximately 500 meters.

According to Romanian network Digi24, 100–150 residents of Plauru, located directly across from Ismail on the Danube River, are being evacuated as a precaution.

The local mayor, Tudor Cernenga, said that security services are conducting “house-to-house” checks and are also removing animals due to the risk of a major explosion.