Russia says it foiled, Ukrainian Drone Attack on Black Sea Civilian Cargo Ships

Defense News ,Russia & Ukraine War :- Russia announced on Saturday that it successfully repelled a Ukrainian drone attack targeting "civilian transport ships" in the southwestern part of the Black Sea, a critical passage for grain and oil exports between the two countries. While civilian vessels on the Black Sea have generally avoided being targeted since Russia's intervention in Ukraine in February 2022, both nations had agreed last July to treat ships headed to each other's ports as potential carriers of military cargo.

In a statement released on the Telegram messaging app, Russia's Defence Ministry revealed that Ukraine had attempted a "terrorist attack on Russian civilian transport ships" using semi-submersible naval drones. The attempted attack was thwarted by Russian patrol boats and warplanes, which destroyed one Ukrainian naval drone through artillery fire and disabled the others using electronic warfare. The statement emphasized that no Russian civilian or military vessels suffered any damage.

Reuters could not independently verify the details provided by Russia, and there was no immediate response from Ukraine.

In July of the previous year, Russia declined to renew a Turkish-brokered agreement that ensured safe grain exports through the region. Consequently, Russia declared that all ships bound for Ukrainian ports would be treated as potential carriers of military cargo. In response, Ukraine adopted a similar stance for ships heading to Russian and Russian-controlled Ukrainian ports.

The precise location of the recent drone attack remains unclear, but it occurred in the southwestern part of the Black Sea, adjacent to Turkey's Bosphorus Strait—an essential route for cargoes leaving the sea.

Recent months have seen Ukraine launching a series of drone and missile attacks on Russian military targets in the Black Sea, resulting in the sinking of at least one naval vessel and causing damage to others. The incident highlights the escalating tensions in the region, with both nations actively engaging in maritime confrontations.