Two foreign-flagged civilian cargo vessels were struck by Russian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attacks near Ukraine’s Odesa region on Friday, resulting in the death of a crew member and injuries to another, Ukrainian authorities confirmed.

The incidents occurred in the vicinity of key Black Sea ports involved in commercial and agricultural exports. Both vessels were engaged in civilian maritime operations at the time of the attack.

One vessel, operating under the Comoros flag, was struck while navigating near the port of Odesa. A Syrian national serving as a crew member was killed in the attack. The second vessel, flying the Saint Kitts and Nevis flag, was en route to Chornomorsk to load grain when it sustained damage from a separate drone strike. One crew member aboard that vessel was reported injured.

Despite the damage, authorities stated that both ships remained seaworthy and were able to proceed under their own power to nearby ports for inspection and assistance.

The Odesa region remains a critical hub for Ukraine’s maritime trade, particularly for grain and agricultural exports. The incident has renewed concerns within the international shipping community regarding navigational safety and risk exposure for merchant vessels operating in the Black Sea.

The attack highlights the continuing security risks facing commercial shipping in the region, where vessel operators remain subject to military activity amid the ongoing conflict.