Russian Attacks on Civilian Vessels: Legal Implications and Our Support
8 October, 2024
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Since the onset of russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, russian forces have consistently targeted civilian vessels en route to or from Ukrainian ports. These attacks result not only in damage to ships, cargo, and crews, but also trigger significant legal consequences for all parties involved in maritime trade.
The legal ramifications of such attacks can be classified into three primary categories:
- Insurance-related issues;
- Maritime law implications;
- Commercial disputes.
Recently, a similar situation occurred with our client, who was a charterer and seller under a sales contract. The vessel transporting the client’s cargo from Ukraine to one of the North African countries suffered damage, including damage to the hatch covers, which directly impacted the safety of the cargo. As a result of being struck by a Russian missile in Romania’s economic zone, and in order to preserve the cargo, the vessel was forced to enter the port of Constanța for inspection and repairs.
Given that this incident had potential ramifications on the execution of the contract, we promptly provided comprehensive legal assistance. This included advising on the liabilities of the parties involved in the transport, liaising with the insurance company, exploring options for compensation, and offering strategies to safeguard our client’s interests.
As a result, our client was able to make swift commercial decisions to mitigate losses and maintain strong relationships with all parties involved in the transportation and contractual agreements.
We remain committed to defending our clients’ rights in these challenging wartime conditions by offering not only legal advice but also effective strategies to protect their interests.
Reach out to our specialists for consultation to safeguard your business.
The project was handled by a team consisting of junior lawyer Dmytro Karetnikov, leading lawyer Mykyta Kocherba, and partner Artem Skorobohatov.
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Interlegal possesses Ukraine’s most extensive experience in resolving maritime incidents, including damages arising from general average, loss or damage to vessels and cargo, as well as attacks by russian forces on vessels and port infrastructure. The firm also has a proven track record of successfully resolving claims and recovering damages from liable parties, including from russia.
