A Russian Tu-22M3 BACKFIRE bomber launched an AS-4 KITCHEN (Kh-22) anti-ship missile that struck the civilian merchant vessel MV Aya carrying 26,000+ tonnes of Ukrainian grain bound for Egypt in the Black Sea near Odesa on September 11, 2024.

On September 11, 2024, the Merchant Vessel (MV) Aya was struck by a missile in the Black Sea as it transited south from the Ukrainian port of Odesa having been loaded with more than 26,000 tonnes of grain bound for Egypt.

It is almost certain that the missile was an AS-4 KITCHEN (Kh-22) anti-ship missile launched by a Tu-22M3 BACKFIRE Russian bomber that was operating in the area at the time.

It is unlikely that the MV Aya was the intended target for this mission and was likely struck due to poor targeting procedures from Russian pilots using an aging munition.

It is a realistic possibility this incident occurred due to pilots incorrectly identifying MV Aya as their target in haste, wanting to depart the area immediately after launch for fear of being targeted by a Ukrainian surface to air missile.

Russia launched a missile strike against a cargo ship carrying Ukrainian grain in the Black Sea on Sept. 11, 2024

A Russian Kh-22 missile struck the MV Aya on September 11 in the morning

The missile was launched by a Tu-22M3 bomber flying over the Black Sea

Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated the Kremlin strike was intentional

The missile may have confused the vessel with a Ukrainian naval outpost