Russian forces struck a bulk carrier at an outer anchorage of the port of Odessa using a Geran-4 Seeker drone, the Russian Defense Ministry announced on Saturday.
The ministry stated that radar control data confirmed the drone hit the designated target, marking a direct escalation against commercial shipping infrastructure in the region.
The incident follows a series of coordinated strikes by Russian forces against port infrastructure in Odessa and the nearby town of Chernomorsk.
Previous attacks targeted facilities housing military cargo and a fishing vessel converted for deploying unmanned surface vessels.
The latest strike on a bulk carrier signals a broadening of the conflict’s impact on civilian maritime assets, raising concerns about the safety of transit routes through the Black Sea.
For market participants, the attack heightens the risk premium on shipping insurance and freight rates for vessels operating in the region.