Three foreign-flagged civilian vessels were struck by Russian drones in the Black Sea on Monday, resulting in the death of one crew member and further endangering commercial shipping routes in the region.
Oleksandr Kiper, head of the Odesa regional administration, confirmed the incidents via Telegram, stating that the ships were en route to ports in the Odesa region when they were hit.
Kiper reported that one crew member, identified as an Egyptian national, died in the attack.
One of the affected vessels, a bulk carrier flying the Panamanian flag, caught fire following the impact.
The crew was evacuated, and the ship has since been anchored.
Kiper reported that one crew member, identified as an Egyptian national, died in the attack.
The incident marks a significant escalation in the targeting of non-military maritime traffic, compounding existing risks for international shipping in the war zone.