Ukraine strikes Russian port with sea drones in Black Sea blockade

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 18 Oct, 06:19 · Archive

Ukraine used sea drones to strike a Russian supply vessel in Sochi port as part of its Black Sea blockade.

Ukraine's Navy announced on 3 September that it had struck the Russian multi-purpose supply vessel NEFRIT in Sochi port using an unmanned sea boat. According to Independent World, footage showed speedboats rushing towards Russian forces before a huge fireball erupted. The Navy stated that NEFRIT was used for oil and gas operations, serviced offshore facilities, transported cargo and personnel, and performed underwater technical work.

The Guardian reports that attacks on shipping in the Black Sea have intensified dramatically. Six ships were hit in ten days beginning in early October, with incidents including the Turkish-owned Alfa Watan, which was struck by suspected Russian air and naval drones on 6 October. An overturned lifeboat and lifejackets were found, but the crew of ten went missing. Another vessel, HS Dignity, was attacked six days later, with eleven crew members killed.

By mid-October, attacks had encroached on Romania's airspace and territorial waters. Two chemical tankers, Wine Trader and Yara J, were attacked and left burning, with seven more sailors missing. Maritime insurer Ambrey warned there is no end in sight to threats against Black Sea cargo shipping, with insurance prices rocketing. More sailors have been lost in the Black Sea in recent weeks than US service members killed in the entire Iran war, according to The Guardian.

How it is being reported

• Intensifying drone attacks on ships in Black Sea bring war ever closer to Nato shoresSix attacks in 10 days by suspected Russian drones mark dramatic escalation in maritime conflict The first the crew of the Bulgarian ferry Dioscuria knew of an attack on a cargo ship in their country’s exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea in the early hours of 6 October was a distant explosion 70 miles off the coastal town of Byala. The Turkish-owned Alfa Watan, heading for the Romanian port of Sulina, had been struck by suspected Russian air and naval drones. Arriving on the scene, Dioscuria found an overturned lifeboat and lifejackets in the water. There was no sign, however, of Alfa…The Guardian · 18 Oct, 06:00
• Watch sea drones strike Russian Olympic city’s port in Ukraine’s Black Sea blockadeA sea drone was used to strike a Russian Olympic city’s port as part of Ukraine 's Black Sea blockade.Independent World · 16 Oct, 14:21

In this story: Ukraine · Russia · Sochi · Black Sea · Bulgaria · Romania · Nato

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem