No Ukrainians on board tanker attacked by pirates off Benin – Ukrainian Foreign Ministry

There were no Ukrainian citizens on board the tanker that was attacked by pirates off the coast of Benin on Thursday, March 11, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko has said on Twitter.

"According to the shipowner, Ukrainian citizens were not on board the Davide B ship, which was attacked by pirates in the Gulf of Guinea," Nikolenko wrote.

Earlier reports said that 21 sailors from Ukraine, Romania and the Philippines were on board the Davide B tanker, operated by Dutch company De Poli Shipmanagement.

Nine armed pirates attacked the Davide B tanker off the coast of Benin on Thursday afternoon, kidnapping 15 crewmembers.

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