A Russian drone attack on a cargo vessel sailing toward Ukraine has killed an Egyptian crew member and left the ship severely damaged, Ukrainian authorities said on Monday, in the latest escalation of hostilities across the Black Sea region.
Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister, Oleksiy Kuleba, said the vessel, sailing under the Panama flag, caught fire after being struck by Russian drones while en route to a Ukrainian port.
The attack killed a 58-year-old Egyptian cook and forced several crew members to abandon the vessel.
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According to Kuleba, eight sailors, including citizens of Turkey and India, escaped on a life raft after the strike. He said the vessel sustained extensive damage and was no longer seaworthy.
The Ukrainian Navy identified the ship as the Turkish-owned cargo vessel Victress and said a large fire broke out onboard following the attack.
Military officials accused Russia of endangering civilian maritime traffic and violating international maritime law.
The latest incident comes as fighting between Russia and Ukraine continues to intensify despite ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at securing a ceasefire.
Kuleba also reported attacks on vessels sailing under the flags of Palau and Belize. No casualties were reported in those incidents.
The Black Sea remains one of the most sensitive theatres of the war, with commercial shipping and port infrastructure increasingly coming under threat.
Elsewhere in Ukraine, regional authorities reported additional civilian casualties following overnight Russian attacks.
In Odesa, emergency officials said a missile strike on civilian infrastructure killed one person and injured three others while sparking a fire at an agricultural enterprise.
In Zaporizhzhia, authorities confirmed the death of a woman after a drone strike trapped her inside a burning house. Three other people were injured.
Russia also reported facing a major wave of Ukrainian drone attacks overnight.
Authorities temporarily suspended operations at Moscow’s four major airports as air defence systems intercepted incoming drones.
Russia’s Ministry of Defence said it destroyed 301 Ukrainian drones across multiple regions overnight.
The latest exchanges highlight the continuing intensity of a conflict that continues to impact civilians, transportation networks and international shipping routes across the region.
