At least two people were killed, five injured and one missing when a Ukrainian coast guard ship hit a mine in the strategic port of Mariupol on June 7.

The Ukrainian coast guard ship (front) hit a mine and sank - Photo: Reuters.

AFP quoted a spokesman for the Ukrainian Interior Ministry as saying that one of the injured died in hospital. Authorities did not provide further information on the condition of the others.

“Authorities are searching for a missing crew member. The missing person has been identified as the captain of the coast guard vessel,” the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine said.

Most of the eastern outskirts of the industrial port of Azov are under government control, but have been repeatedly attacked by pro-Russian militants in recent weeks.

In September 2014, the area was also attacked by separatist forces with mortars. Mariupol has major roads connecting many parts of the Ukrainian separatist territory with the Crimean peninsula.

In March 2014, Russia annexed Crimea into its territory after a referendum. The move caused a significant rift in Moscow-Kiev relations.

(According to AFP/TTO)