Russian drones hit a Turkish dry cargo vessel, the Victress, which was sailing under the Panamanian flag in the Black Sea on Monday, Ukraine's navy said.
Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said a 58-year-old Egyptian cook was killed and eight other crew members, including Turkish and Indian nationals, had to evacuate on a lifeboat.
The vessel sustained significant damage, Kuleba said on Telegram. The operator of the Victress, Turkey's Rana Denizcilik, according to LSEG data, could not immediately be reached for comment.
"Russia remains the main threat to the Black Sea security and prosperity," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on X.
Multiple ships attacked on Ukranian export routes, vessels resume journey
Kuleba said vessels operating under the flags of Palau and Belize also came under attack overnight, but nobody was hurt and the vessels resumed their journey.
Russia has repeatedly attacked Ukraine's maritime export routes, striking vessels and ports vital to foreign trade and the wartime economy.
There were casualties among the nine crew members who are nationals of Egypt, Turkey, and India, it said, adding that everyone was rescued. The X post did not provide details on the casualties.