Key facts
- A Turkish-owned cargo ship, the Nadezhda, was hit by a drone attack near Novorossiysk, Russia.
- Three of the ship's 22 crew members were seriously injured.
- The ship was sailing from Novorossiysk to Turkey when attacked.
- Russia's Defence Ministry claimed it struck three vessels in Mykolaiv port and one off Odesa, as well as a container terminal and drone warehouse in Chornomorsk.
- Turkey's Foreign Ministry called for safety in the Black Sea following the incident.
A Turkish-owned cargo ship, the Nadezhda, sustained damage and a fire after being hit by a drone attack approximately 20 to 30 nautical miles off the coast of Novorossiysk, Russia. Three of the vessel's 22 crew members, including 13 Turkish nationals, were seriously injured and evacuated by Russian naval units. The ship's captain alleged Ukraine was responsible for the attack, stating six or seven drones were used. Meanwhile, Russia's Defence Ministry claimed its forces struck three vessels in Mykolaiv port and another off Odesa that were being used in the interests of the Ukrainian military. Russia also stated it hit a container terminal and a warehouse storing drones and drone components in Chornomorsk. Turkey's Foreign Ministry expressed serious concern over the targeting of civilian vessels and called on both Russia and Ukraine to ensure navigational safety in the Black Sea. Reuters could not independently verify the claims made by either side.