Ukrainian drones sank a Russian-owned container ship in the Black Sea early Saturday, forcing its 17-member crew to abandon the vessel, the ship’s owner said.
Rosatom, Russia’s state-owned nuclear power operator, said at least two Ukrainian drones struck the Yanina cargo vessel as it sailed near the Russian port of Novorossiysk. The ship, operated by Rosatom’s shipping subsidiary FESCO, was carrying civilian goods including frozen food and construction materials, Rosatom said. There was no immediate indication that the vessel was carrying out activities related to Rosatom’s nuclear arm or carrying nuclear material.
“The ship’s crew abandoned the ship in an organized and coordinated manner after it began to sink. All 17 crew members have been rescued and are in good condition,” Rosatom said on Telegram in a statement. The statement quoted Rosatom CEO Alexei Likhachev as saying that such an attack “cannot be interpreted as anything other than piracy and robbery at sea.”
Ukraine, which has targeted Russian-flagged ships in the Black Sea throughout the nearly four-and-a-half-year war, did not immediately comment. Kyiv has accused Russia of using the waterway to transport sanctioned goods, including oil. Russia has launched multiple strikes on Ukrainian port infrastructure and ships approaching Ukrainian ports since the war began, attacks that Kyiv says are war crimes.
The sinking is the latest escalation in the naval campaign around the Black Sea and comes as Ukraine steps up long-range drone strikes against Russian military and economic targets. Novorossiysk is one of Russia’s main export ports for oil and grain, and the attack raises questions about the safety of commercial shipping near Russian harbors. MarineLink, a maritime industry publication, reported on the sinking and its implications for shipping risk in the region.
Rosatom’s involvement drew particular attention because the state corporation also operates Russia’s civilian nuclear fleet, although the Yanina was a conventional cargo vessel. The ship’s operator, FESCO, is one of Russia’s largest shipping and logistics companies and was transferred under state control in 2022 after its owner faced sanctions pressure.
The incident follows a series of Ukrainian sea drone operations that have damaged Russian warships, patrol boats and port infrastructure over the past two years. Ukraine has also hit Russian oil tankers and fuel terminals as part of a campaign to disrupt Moscow’s export revenues and logistics chains feeding the war effort in Ukraine.
Analysts say the attacks on commercial vessels are designed to raise the cost of the war for Moscow while avoiding direct engagement with the Russian navy. The Black Sea remains a key battleground, with both sides trading strikes on ports and shipping despite earlier agreements aimed at protecting grain exports from Ukrainian ports.
Sources: The Moscow Times, Firstpost, MarineLink
Author: Russia Desk
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