Ukrainian authorities on Monday accused Russia of escalating attacks on civilian maritime targets after a drone strike sparked a major fire aboard a foreign cargo vessel in the Black Sea.
According to the Ukrainian Navy, the Panama-flagged Turkish cargo ship Victress caught fire following a drone attack, raising concerns over the safety of international shipping routes operating near Ukraine’s coastline.
In a statement posted on Telegram, the navy condemned the incident, describing it as further evidence that Russia continues to violate international maritime law and threaten civilian vessels navigating the region.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, also reported that ships sailing under the flags of Palau and Belize came under attack. He noted that no casualties were recorded aboard those vessels.
The maritime incidents occurred amid a new wave of Russian strikes across Ukraine that regional authorities said left at least two people dead.
In the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, officials reported that a woman was killed after a Russian drone struck a residential area. Ivan Fedorov, head of the regional military administration, said three others were injured, while emergency responders worked to reach residents trapped in damaged buildings.
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“Sadly, the death of the woman who was inside the house destroyed by the enemy drone has been confirmed,” Fedorov said in an update on Telegram.
In the southern port region of Odesa, emergency services said one person died and three others were wounded after a missile strike hit civilian infrastructure. The attack also ignited a fire at an agricultural enterprise, according to local authorities.
Meanwhile, Russia reported facing a large-scale Ukrainian drone assault overnight. Aviation authorities temporarily suspended operations at all four of Moscow’s airports as air defence systems responded to the threat.
Russia’s Ministry of Defence said its forces intercepted and destroyed 301 Ukrainian drones across various regions of the country during the night.
The latest exchanges highlight the continuing intensity of the conflict, with both sides reporting attacks on critical infrastructure, civilian areas and strategic transportation routes.