Russian Drones Attack Three Foreign-Flagged Merchant Vessels Near Ukraine’s Black Sea Ports
Details of the Drone Attacks on Merchant Vessels
Overview of the Incident
May 29 (Reuters) - Russian drones attacked three foreign-flagged merchant vessels late on Thursday and overnight as they sailed along Ukraine's maritime export corridor in the Black Sea, Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said on Friday.
Impact and Response
Fires and Crew Actions
The strikes caused fires on the vessels, but they were extinguished by the crews, Kuleba said on Telegram.
Flags of the Attacked Vessels
Ukraine's seaports authority said the vessels were under the flags of Vanuatu, the Comoros and Panama.
Specific Vessel Incident: The Ant
Details of the Strike
The Ukrainian navy earlier reported a strike on the Ant, which it said was a Turkey-owned cargo ship sailing under the Vanuatu flag. It said the ship was heading to Turkey from one of the ports in Odesa region.
Consequences for the Crew and Cargo
The strike caused a fire and evacuation of two injured crew, it said, adding that the vessel was laden with cargo at the time.
Context of Russian Attacks on Maritime Routes
Strategic Importance of Export Routes
Russia has repeatedly targeted maritime export routes during the more than four years since its invasion of Ukraine, striking ports vital to foreign trade and the wartime economy.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Jekaterīna Golubkova in Tokyo and Anna Pruchnicka in GdanskEditing by Clarence Fernandez and David Goodman)
