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Russia Attacks Two Foreign Merchant Vessels in Black Sea, Killing Crewman
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Russian drones struck two civilian merchant vessels bound for Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea overnight on June 22, killing one crew member.
The strikes were reported by Oleksiy Kuleba, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction and Minister for Development of Communities and Territories.
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The drone strike ignited a fire aboard a Panama-flagged ship. A 58-year-old crew member, an Egyptian national, was killed. Eight other sailors, among them Turkish and Indian nationals, were forced to evacuate on a life raft. The vessel sustained heavy damage and lost its seaworthiness.
The same night, drones also hit ships flying the flags of Palau and Belize. No one aboard either was injured, and both vessels continued on despite the damage.
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Kuleba condemned the attack in the strongest terms: "This is yet another war crime by Russia. Attacks on the merchant fleet and humanitarian sea routes are a direct threat to global food and economic security and require a decisive response from the international community."
Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, noted that the Türkiye-owned cargo ship was struck just after a high-level Turkish visit to Russia, calling it proof that Moscow's assurances cannot be trusted.
Overnight, Russia attacked a Türkiye-owned dry cargo vessel in the Black Sea. And it did so right after a high-level Turkish visit to Russia.
— Andrii Sybiha 🇺🇦 (@andrii_sybiha) June 22, 2026
A clear demonstration that Russia’s words cannot be trusted. Russia remains the main threat to the Black Sea security and prosperity.… pic.twitter.com/a3BSNyHsqM
The same maritime corridor has drawn repeated Russian fire in recent weeks. On June 6, drones struck two boats of Ukraine's Maritime Search and Rescue Service as they carried out a humanitarian mission inside the corridor, wounding several crew members.
Ukrainian officials condemned that strike as a violation of Article 27 of the Second Geneva Convention, which protects vessels engaged solely in search and rescue at sea. The route was opened after Russia abandoned the Black Sea Grain Initiative in 2023 and has since carried much of the commercial traffic moving to and from Ukrainian ports.
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