Key facts
- A Turkish-owned cargo ship, the Nadezhda, was hit by a drone attack near Novorossiysk.
- Three crew members were seriously injured.
- The vessel was sailing from Novorossiysk to Turkey when attacked.
- A fire broke out on the ship, affecting its living quarters and bow section.
- All 22 crew members were evacuated to Novorossiysk.
- The ship's captain alleged Ukraine was responsible for the attack.
Three crew members were seriously injured when a Turkish-owned roll-on/roll-off cargo ship, the Nadezhda, was struck by drones near Russia's Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. The vessel was sailing from Novorossiysk to Samsun, Turkey, when the attack occurred approximately 20 to 30 nautical miles offshore.
A fire broke out in the ship's living quarters and bow section following the drone strike. All 22 crew members, including 13 Turkish nationals, were safely evacuated to Novorossiysk Port by Russian naval units. The ship's captain, Yalcin Sahin, alleged that Ukraine was responsible for the attack, stating that six or seven drones were used.
Türkiye's Directorate General of Maritime Affairs confirmed the incident, noting that the ship sustained damage and a fire was ongoing. The presence of drones in the area reportedly complicated rescue efforts. The claim that a Ukrainian drone carried out the strike could not be independently verified, and there was no immediate official statement from Ukrainian or Russian authorities confirming the details.