A Russian drone has struck a merchant ship in the Black Sea, leading to a fire on board and a human casualty. The information was reported by Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba.
According to him, a merchant ship sailing under the Panamanian flag and operating for Ukraine was hit during a drone attack. A fire broke out on board after the strike.
"A fire broke out on a ship sailing under the Panamanian flag following a drone strike. One of the crew members was killed – it is a 58-year-old cook with Egyptian citizenship," Kuleba stated on Telegram.
The vessel's crew consisted of nine people – citizens of Egypt, Turkey, and India. Following the incident, the ship is severely damaged and cannot continue its voyage.
According to Ukrainian authorities, the attack is not an isolated incident. Kuleba reported that two other merchant ships, sailing under the flags of Belize and Palau respectively, were also attacked during the same night.
The case highlights the increasing risks for merchant ships in the Black Sea region, where tensions remain high and maritime traffic is under constant threat.