Ukraine Sinks Russian-Owned Container Ship in Black Sea, Rosatom Says

By AFP Aug. 1, 2026 Russia's state-owned nuclear power operator Rosatom said at least two Ukrainian drones struck the 'Yanina' cargo vessel as it sailed near the Russian port of Novorossiysk. vesseltracker.com Ukrainian drones sank a Russian-owned container ship in the Black Sea early Saturday, forcing its 17-member crew to abandon the vessel, the ship's owner said. Rosatom, Russia's state-owned nuclear power operator, said at least two Ukrainian drones struck the “Yanina” cargo vessel as it sailed near the Russian port of Novorossiysk. The ship — operated by Rosatom's shipping subsidiary FESCO — was carrying civilian goods including frozen food and construction materials, Rosatom said. There was no immediate indication that the vessel was carrying out activities related to Rosatom's nuclear arm or carrying nuclear material. “The ship's crew abandoned the ship in an organized and coordinated manner after it began to sink. All 17 crew members have been rescued and are in good condition,” Rosatom said on Telegram in a statement. “Such an attack cannot be interpreted as anything other than piracy and robbery at sea,” the statement quoted Rosatom CEO Alexei Likhachev as saying. Ukraine, which has targeted Russian-flagged ships in the Black Sea throughout the nearly four-and-a-half year war, did not immediately comment. Kyiv has accused Russia of using the waterway to transport sanctioned goods, including oil. Russia has launched multiple strikes on Ukrainian port infrastructure and ships approaching Ukrainian ports since the war began, attacks that Kyiv says are a war crime. Read more about: Black Sea , Rosatom , Drones , Ukraine war Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russian Drone Struck Civilian Cargo Ship in Black Sea, Ukraine Claims Odesa region Governor Oleh Kiper said several crew members of the Panamanian-flagged ship were wounded in the attack. 1 Min read Ukraine Hits Key Russian Oil Terminal After U.S. Warning Ukraine’s General Staff has previously said the Sheskharis oil terminal supports Russian forces fighting in Ukraine. 2 Min read Defense Ministry Blames Ukraine for Drone Attack on Greek-Owned Oil Tanker in Black Sea Authorities in Athens had said the drones hit two Greek-owned tankers, one of which was due to load Kazakh oil near Russia’s coast. 2 Min read Spill Discovered in Black Sea After Ukrainian Strike on Tuapse Oil Terminal – BBC It is the latest in a series of oil spills in the Black Sea in recent months. 2 Min read