A cargo vessel sailing under the Vanuatu flag was struck during a nighttime drone attack in the Black Sea while en route from a Ukrainian port in the Odesa region toward Turkey, leaving two crew members injured, according to Ukrainian and Turkish authorities.
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said the ship was among several foreign merchant vessels targeted during overnight strikes. “Last night, Russian drones attacked three foreign merchant ships moving along the sea corridor,” he said, adding that the incident resulted in fires onboard which crews were later able to contain.
He also confirmed that the injured sailors received medical assistance, while the vessel was later towed for repairs. Ukrainian naval forces reported that the two wounded crew members were evacuated and transported to hospital after emergency response teams reached the ship.
The Ukrainian Navy said the vessel, carrying cargo, was operating along the established maritime export route when it was hit, and emphasized that port operations and sea corridors continue to function despite repeated attacks.
Separate maritime reporting indicated that multiple vessels in the wider Black Sea area were targeted during the same period, with incidents occurring near Turkey’s northern coastline. Shipping agencies described a series of attacks involving merchant ships sailing in ballast or conducting operations in nearby waters, though initial reports noted crew members remained generally safe in those cases.
