Russian drone attack kills sailor on Black Sea merchant ship, officials say

A Russian drone attacked a commercial vessel carrying rapeseed oil in the Black Sea, killing one person and hurting seven others, Odesa regional governor Oleh Kiper said. The Marshall Islands-flagged ship sustained damage to its superstructure, where a fire broke out, RBC-Ukraine reported, citing Kiper.

Odesa regional prosecutor’s office spokeswoman Inna Verba told UNIAN that the weapon was a jet-powered drone and the sailor killed was 41. She said all victims were men aged 20–67 and that a criminal investigation had been opened under the provision of Ukraine’s Criminal Code covering war crimes resulting in death.

An unnamed law enforcement source told UNIAN that the attack occurred on the morning of October 6 and that the dead sailor was Turkish. The source also said Turkish nationals were among the crew. Novynarnia, citing the Shipping Administration and Kiper, identified the dead crew member as the ship’s steward.

The cited reports did not specify the vessel’s name, the precise location or time of the attack, or the condition of those hurt.