Russian forces launched a drone strike on a Turkish civilian vessel in the Black Sea on December 13, hitting a ship loaded with sunflower oil and bound for Egypt. Ukraine’s navy confirmed the attack on the vessel Viva, which was transiting through Ukraine’s exclusive economic zone when it was struck.
No injuries were reported among the 11 Turkish crew members aboard. The ship continued its journey.
What happened
The attack on the Viva did not occur in isolation. It coincided with a broader wave of Russian strikes targeting Ukrainian ports, particularly in the Odesa region, where at least three Turkish-owned vessels sustained damage. Geolocated footage from those port sites confirmed visible fires and structural damage to the affected ships.
Ukraine condemned the strike, framing it as evidence that Russia has no genuine interest in de-escalation and little regard for the safety of civilian maritime operations. Russia, for its part, has not publicly acknowledged or commented on the drone attack against the Viva.
