Russia attacked a cargo ship in the Black Sea; the Ukrainian captain was killed

On the night of September 23, Russian forces struck a cargo ship flying the flag of Antigua and Barbuda in the Black Sea. The attack caused a fire on the ship; the crew was evacuated, but the captain—a Ukrainian citizen—was killed. 

According to the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (AMPU), a fire broke out on the cargo ship following the Russian strike.

The crew was evacuated from the ship by the Ukrainian Navy. The fire was extinguished.

However, the ship’s captain—a Ukrainian sailor—was killed.

Before and during the attack, air raid alerts were issued in the southern districts of the Odesa region due to the threat of attack drones.

From 10:32 p.m. on September 22 to 6:53 a.m. on September 23, air raid alerts were issued in the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi, Podilskyi, Berezivskyi, Odesa, and Izmail districts.

The Ukrainian Air Force also warned of jet-powered drones moving toward Odesa and Vilkove.

Thus, the Russian strike on a foreign cargo ship occurred in the Black Sea during a massive drone attack on southern Ukraine.

This is not the first time Russian forces have attacked civilian shipping in the Black Sea. Previously, on July 18, 2026, Russia also struck a foreign merchant ship flying the flag of Antigua and Barbuda: one person was killed and three others were injured.

This was reported by the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (USPA).

On September 17, a Russian drone attacked a vessel flying the Tanzanian flag that was heading to one of Ukraine’s ports. The captain was killed in the attack, and three other crew members were injured.

In Turkey, a vessel passing through the Strait of Hormuz was struck by an unidentified type of munition. This was reported on Sunday, September 13, by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).