**Turkish Sailor Killed in Drone Strike Amid Escalating Ukrainian Attacks on Shipping**
A Turkish sailor lost his life and several others were injured following a drone strike on a Türkiye-flagged coal bulker near Russia’s port of Novorossiysk on Wednesday. This incident is part of a broader pattern of intensified Ukrainian attacks on maritime shipping in the Azov and Black seas.
The vessel involved, the MV Reyhan Sari, which is registered in Istanbul, was transporting coal from Taman Port in Russia to Trabzon, Türkiye, when it was targeted by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Reports indicate that the strike occurred around 1:30 AM local time, resulting in the death of a crew member who was working in the engine room at the time of the attack.
Despite the damage, the ship managed to navigate under its own power to reach waters off Samsun. Two injured crew members were subsequently evacuated by helicopter and taken to hospitals in the area, as confirmed by the operating company.
A crew member who survived the attack recounted the harrowing experience to the Ihlas News Agency (IHA). He described how the drone strike hit his cabin, leading to chaos and destruction. “They hit my cabin with a drone. They pulled me out from under the wreckage,” he said. He also mentioned that a second explosion occurred while he was in the sickbay, causing further devastation.
The incident is part of a series of strikes that Ukrainian forces have conducted against maritime targets. According to Robert Brovdi, the commander of Ukraine’s drone forces, a total of 13 ships were struck on Tuesday and Thursday, including one tanker, ten dry cargo ships, and two tugboats.
This is not the first instance of Turkish vessels being targeted by suspected Ukrainian drones. In March, a tanker belonging to a Turkish shipping company, which was blacklisted by Ukraine, was attacked by drones near the Bosphorus after loading oil at Novorossiysk.
In response to these maritime incidents, Russia has also ramped up its military actions in the Black Sea and the Odessa region. Recent reports indicate that Russian forces have targeted port infrastructure in Odessa, which is used for unloading and storing military cargo, as well as fuel and lubricant tanks intended for the Ukrainian military. The Russian Defense Ministry has indicated that these strikes are part of a larger strategy to disrupt Ukraine’s naval logistics, particularly in light of Ukrainian attacks on Russian civilian and energy infrastructure.
The Kremlin has made it clear that attacks on vessels transporting military supplies to Ukraine will persist, emphasizing the ongoing conflict's escalation and its implications for maritime security in the region.
As the situation unfolds, the international community continues to monitor the developments in the Black Sea and the Azov Sea, where the conflict has significant implications for shipping and trade routes. The tragic loss of life in this recent drone strike underscores the growing dangers faced by maritime crews amid the ongoing hostilities between Ukraine and Russia.