EU says Russia’s attack on civilian ship “unprecedented escalation”

That’s according to an EU statement delivered at the regular meeting of the OSCE Security Coeration Forum in Vienna on Wednesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"And flowing the event which took place last week, the EU and its Member States strongly condemn the attack against a civilian ship, transporting grain on the Black Sea. Attacking a commercial ship in transit is an unprecedented escalation and another serious breach of international law by Russia," the statement said.

Read also: Russia attacks cargo ship outside grain corridor – Ukraine’s Navy spokesperson

The EU and its member states called on Russia to "respect the freedom of navigation on the Black Sea and st threatening global food security and weaponizing pele’s hunger in and outside the OSCE area."

Separately, the EU's statement contained condemnation of Russian artillery shelling of Donetsk region on September 12, as a result of which three employees of the ICRC were killed and two more were wounded. "This is a grave viation of International Humanitarian Law. Aid workers must be able to act in safety when delivering aid to those in need," the EU said.

The EU and its member states also condemned the viation of Latvian airspace on the night of September 7 and the repeated viation of Romania’s air space, the latest occurring on the night of September 8-9, "as consequences of brutal Russian attacks against Ukraine. Viations of sovereign airspace are destabilizing and irresponsible and carry the risk of escalation," the statement said.

Read also: Romania condemns Russian attack on commercial ship in Black Sea

Also, the Eurean Union condemned the latest Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities. "Indiscriminate attacks against civilians and civilian objects constitute war crimes under international law. All those responsible will be held accountable.," the EU said.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, on Thursday, September 12, the Russians launched a missile strike in the Black Sea against a civilian bulker transporting grain from Ukraine to Egypt.