Deadly Drone Strikes Hit Black Sea Cargo Ships

Three international cargo ships were struck by drones in the Black Sea, in an overnight attack that Ukraine has directly blamed on Russia. The most severe damage occurred on the Panama-flagged Turkish vessel ‘Victress’, where a resulting fire killed two crew members, including a 58-year-old cook and an Egyptian national. According to Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba, eight surviving sailors from Turkey and India were forced to evacuate the heavily damaged ship via lifeboat. Two other vessels flying the flags of Palau and Belize were also targeted in the strikes, but both escaped without casualties and have safely continued their voyages.