A civilian sailor has been killed and five others wounded after Russian drones struck foreign-flagged vessels in the Black Sea, raising fears that one of the world’s most important maritime corridors is becoming a new front line in the war.
The attack, which hit two commercial ships on Friday, has triggered accusations that Moscow is putting international shipping, global trade and food supplies at risk.
Ukraine said a sailor aboard a Panama-flagged vessel was killed when the ship came under attack, while two others were injured — including one crew member reported to be in a critical condition.
A second vessel, sailing under the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis, was also hit, injuring three members of its crew.
The nationalities of the sailors have not been released.
Oleksiy Kuleba, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister for reconstruction, condemned the strike as another example of Russia targeting civilian maritime operations.
“Civilian crews, merchant vessels, and maritime infrastructure supporting humanitarian and export routes remain under attack,” he said.
He warned the world must not become accustomed to merchant sailors being caught in the conflict.
The attack is the latest in a growing pattern of strikes against shipping in the Black Sea, where commercial vessels carrying vital exports have increasingly found themselves operating under the shadow of war.
The region is one of the world’s most important routes for grain and agricultural exports, meaning attacks on maritime traffic carry consequences far beyond the battlefield.
In recent months, drones have struck ships carrying vegetable oil, grain and other cargoes near Ukrainian ports.
A Liberia-flagged grain vessel was set on fire after being hit in April, while the Vanuatu-flagged cargo ship ANT was damaged by a drone strike in May, injuring crew members and forcing an emergency response.
Ukraine has accused Russia of using attacks on maritime infrastructure as part of a wider campaign to pressure its economy and restrict international trade.
Moscow has repeatedly denied targeting civilians and says its military operations are focused on legitimate strategic targets.
But the expanding danger around the Black Sea has alarmed governments watching a conflict that is increasingly threatening routes used by global commerce.
Turkey, which has sought to maintain a diplomatic role between Kyiv and Moscow, has called for a lasting settlement to protect regional security and freedom of navigation.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said stability in the Black Sea was essential for long-term peace.
Yet with commercial ships now sailing through waters where drones can strike without warning, the risks are becoming harder to ignore.
The war that began on land is spreading further into the seas — and the sailors caught in its path are paying the price.
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