Key facts
- A Russian drone attacked a Tanzania-flagged civilian vessel in the Black Sea on September 17.
- The attack killed the ship's captain and injured three crew members.
- Ukraine's Infrastructure Ministry reported the incident.
- The vessel was en route to a Ukrainian port.
- Ukraine called for an international response to protect civilian shipping.
A Russian drone attacked a Tanzania-flagged civilian vessel in the Black Sea on September 17, killing the ship's captain and injuring three crew members, Ukraine's Infrastructure Ministry said. The vessel was en route to a Ukrainian port.
The ministry stated that Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukrainian ports, port infrastructure, and civilian commercial vessels in the Black Sea, posing a threat to international shipping and logistics routes. It called for an international response and coordinated measures to strengthen the protection of civilian shipping in the Black Sea.
The report comes amid intensified attacks by Ukraine and Russia in the Black Sea over the spring and summer. In July, Ukraine launched Operation Molochka, a campaign targeting Russia's shadow fleet in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. In August, Turkey called on Moscow and Kyiv to impose a moratorium on attacks against vessels following a series of strikes involving Turkish-flagged ships. While Kyiv has expressed readiness for a moratorium, Moscow has shown no interest in de-escalating the situation. Ukraine established its own Black Sea maritime corridor in August 2023 after Russia withdrew from a U.N.- and Turkey-brokered grain deal, and Russia has since regularly targeted ports and civilian shipping.