site.btaRussian Drones Attack Foreign-Flagged Merchant Ships Near Chornomorsk Port, One Is Injured

A Russian drone strike targeted foreign-flagged ships near the port of Chornomorsk in Odesa Oblast on Monday evening and one person was injured, Odesa Regional Military Administration head Oleg Kiper reported on Telegram.

"The drone struck a Panama-flagged vessel waiting in the port to be loaded with vegetable oil. The hit affected the ship’s superstructure. Unfortunately, a crew member was injured and is in serious condition. He was evacuated by Ukrainian naval forces to Odesa port, where he is receiving medical care," Kiper said.

A second strike targeted a San Marino-flagged cargo ship carrying bulk and general goods as it was leaving the port area. A fire broke out but was quickly contained, and no one was injured, Kiper added.

He noted that this marks the second attack on civilian vessels in the Black Sea in the past week, with both incidents targeting commercial ships navigating international maritime corridors.

Kiper condemned the attacks as deliberate strikes on civilian shipping, violating international humanitarian law and threatening global food security. 

On Sunday night, Odesa came under a massive attack by more than 10 drones launched from the Black Sea, with loud explosions heard across the city, Serhiy Lysak, the head of the City Military Administration, said on Telegram earlier. Two people were injured in the attack.