Russian drones attacked civilian vessels flying the flags of Panama and Saint Kitts and Nevis in the Black Sea, killing one crew member aboard the Panamanian-flagged ship and injuring five other sailors, according to Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine and Minister for Communities and Territories Development Oleksii Kuleba.
“As a result of a Russian UAV attack on civilian vessels in the Black Sea, a crew member aboard a Panamanian-flagged ship was killed, while two other sailors were injured, one of them seriously. My sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased,” Kuleba wrote on Telegram.
A vessel flying the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis was also hit, with three crew members sustaining minor injuries.
“This is further proof that Russia is waging war against freedom of navigation, international trade, and global food security. Civilian crews, merchant vessels, and maritime infrastructure that support humanitarian and export routes are under attack,” Kuleba stressed.
According to him, such crimes must receive a clear international assessment—as acts of terrorism.
“The world cannot become accustomed to civilian sailors being targeted by Russian weapons,” he emphasized.
