At least five commercial grain vessels operating near the Russian Black Sea ports of Novorossiysk and Tuapse have been struck in a series of targeted attacks. The operations highlight the growing impact of uncrewed strike systems on maritime logistics and export infrastructure during peak harvest season in the region.
As reported by Bloomberg, four ships were hit on Tuesday morning, following an initial strike on a fifth vessel on Monday. The attacks targeted merchant ships flying various international flags, including the Russian-flagged bulk carrier Victoria V, the Marshall Islands-flagged Fehu, the Maltese-flagged Elina B, the San Marino-flagged Necibe, and the Liberian-flagged Anna S. While some vessels sustained manageable damage and continued their voyages, a drone strike on the Anna S ignited an onboard fire that rendered the ship unable to proceed to Novorossiysk.
The strikes reflect an intensifying campaign of asymmetric uncrewed attacks against commercial infrastructure in the Black Sea. Drone strikes since July 10 have halted shipments from Azov Sea ports, which handle a quarter of Russian grain exports, while major terminals at the deep-water port of Novorossiysk recently suspended operations following heavy attacks. The increasing frequency and precision of these uncrewed engagements continue to disrupt Russian maritime transport and heighten operational risks for commercial shipping lines.
