Russian Drone Attack Hits Turkish Cargo Ship Carrying Sunflower Oil to Egypt, Ukraine Says

Ukraine’s navy has accused Russia of deliberately targeting a civilian Turkish cargo vessel with a drone attack in the Black Sea, escalating concerns over maritime security and the safety of international shipping routes. According to a statement published on Telegram, the vessel, named Viva, was transporting sunflower oil from Ukraine to Egypt when it was struck on Saturday.

The Ukrainian navy said the ship was operating in the open sea within Ukraine’s exclusive economic zone at the time of the attack. Officials emphasized that the strike occurred outside the effective range of Ukrainian air defense systems, underscoring what they described as a clear violation of international maritime law. The Viva reportedly had 11 Turkish citizens on board, all of whom were unharmed. Despite the incident, the ship was able to continue its voyage toward Egypt, and Ukrainian authorities said they remain in direct contact with the vessel’s captain.

The alleged drone strike comes just one day after Russia attacked two Ukrainian port facilities, incidents that Ukraine’s navy claims resulted in damage to three Turkish-owned ships. One of those vessels reportedly caught fire, causing significant concern among maritime operators and regional trading partners. Turkey, a key player in Black Sea shipping and grain exports, has previously called for restraint to protect civilian vessels and global food supply chains.

These latest attacks follow heightened tensions after Moscow warned it could effectively “cut Ukraine off from the sea.” That threat came after Ukrainian strikes reportedly damaged three so-called “shadow fleet” oil tankers used by Russia to export crude oil, despite international sanctions.

Ukraine’s sunflower oil exports are a critical component of global agricultural trade, particularly for countries in the Middle East and Africa. Any disruption to Black Sea shipping routes risks driving up food prices and increasing instability in already vulnerable markets. As the conflict continues, the targeting of civilian vessels has raised alarms among international observers, who fear further escalation could undermine freedom of navigation and global trade security.