[74514] Russian drone attack against cargo ships in the Black Sea near Odesa

Russian attack on cargo ships in Ukraine's maritime corridor

During the night of May 29, 2026, Russian forces attacked three foreign commercial vessels moving in the Ukrainian "maritime corridor" near the coast of the Odesa region using unmanned aerial vehicles (drones). According to reports from the Ukrainian Navy (VMS ZSU), one of the ships hit is the cargo ship 'ANT' under the Vanuatu flag, owned by a Turkish company.

In a report by the Center for Strategic Communication (SPRAVDI), which is close to the Ukrainian government, it was noted that Russia "continues to create a threat to international shipping and global food security" by hitting civilian infrastructure. As a result of the hits to the superstructure of the ships, fires broke out, which according to the TSN Telegram channel were extinguished or contained with the help of Ukrainian emergency teams.

Oleksiy Kuleba confirmed that three ships were hit, including vessels under the flags of Vanuatu, Comoros, and Panama. Two crew members were injured and evacuated for medical treatment, with one of the ships requiring towing to port for repairs. Radio Svoboda noted that Russia did not provide an official response to these incidents, which are frequently reported by them.

In addition to the naval attack, damage to energy infrastructure in the region was reported. Serhiy Bratchuk stated that about 4,000 residents in the southern Odesa region were temporarily disconnected from electricity due to damage to high-voltage lines, although no casualties were reported among the local population in this attack.

At the same time, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) announced it had thwarted another attempt by Russian agents to smuggle an attack drone by sea disguised as a cigarette shipment, as part of an operation that has been ongoing over the past year.