Russian pilots flying a Tu-22M3 supersonic bomber mistakenly hit the Merchant Vessel (MV) Aya in the Black Sea, after likely confusing it as a target while evading Ukrainian air defences, according to the UK Ministry of Defence. The grain ship, which was loaded with 26,000 tons of grain bound for Egypt, narrowly avoided catastrophic damage when the missile failed to detonate. UK defence officials stated that the missile was an AS-4 KITCHEN anti-ship missile, likely launched in haste by the Russian bomber. The incident occurred on 11 September 2024, as the ship was transiting south from Odesa.UK officials suggested that poor targeting procedures, coupled with the pilots’ haste to exit the area after launch due to the risk of being struck by Ukrainian surface-to-air missiles, led to the accidental strike. Since the downing of a Tu-22M3 in April, Russian pilots have become more cautious with strike operations in the Black Sea. The MoD added that Russia has regularly attacked targets along Ukraine’s Black Sea coastline as part of efforts to disrupt exports and degrade military assets in the region.
