Russian forces fire at neutral European ship 12 miles off the coast of Ukraine

Russian forces have fired at a Moldovan flagged ship only 12 miles off the coast of the country and left two crew members seriously injured.

A Moldovan ship was shelled by Russia not far off the coast, near the port of Odessa in the south of the country.

The Millennium Spirit, flying under a Moldovan flag was fired on and damaged and two crew members were injured by the blast .

This is another worrying development as Russia continues its invasion, now firing on commercial vessels in the area.

The Commander in Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces posted about the random attack on Facebook.

He wrote: “A boat under the flag of Moldova. The Millennium Spirit boat under the flag of Moldova 12 miles from the port of the South was hit by a Russian ship.

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The damage done to the Moldovan commercial vessel by a Russian ship (Ministry of Defense of Ukraine)

“Circumstances are clarifying, there is no connection with the vessel.

“The bunkering vessel MILLENNIUM SPIRIT sailing under the Moldovan flag was damaged by the russian ship in 12 miles on the way to the Pivdennyi Seaport. Details are being confirmed, there is no communication with the vessel.”

Earlier reports suggested that it had been a Romanian vessel, which would have meant Russia had fired on a Nato ally.

A destroyed Russian army rocket launcher in Kharkiv, Ukraine (REUTERS)

This comes as the invasion continues well into its second day, with Russian forces coalescing on the capital.

A steady stream of reports from the frontline have shown Russian forces getting closer and closer to Kyiv.

Within the city, Russian special forces have made it into a number of districts and fighting broke out.

A woman walks in front of Russian armored vehicles parked at a railway station in the southern Russian Rostov region (AFP via Getty Images)

On one occasion, Russian soldiers tried to dress up as Ukrainian but were found out and killed.

It was reported Ukraine citizens were on the streets, armed with weapons, and the country’s army has set up in the centre of Kyiv in preparation for the fight for the city.

It is not quite sure if Russia intends to rule Ukraine as a subservient state, or impose a puppet government, but thousands of Ukrainians have fled their homes, and made for their western borders.

The Russian ship, shortly after firing on a Moldovan vessel (Ministry of Defense of Ukraine)

Moldova has received almost 16,000 refugees in the few days since the conflict began.

Moldovan Interior Minister Ana Revenco said on February 25 that 15,800 Ukrainian citizens have crossed the border in the last 24 hours.