Turkish cargo ship catches fire after drone attack near Novorossiysk

A Turkish-flagged cargo vessel ignited after being struck by a drone near the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk on Tuesday, authorities said. The unmanned aerial system, identified by local officials as part of a series of attacks targeting maritime infrastructure, hit the ship while it was navigating the waters off the port, causing a fire that quickly spread across the deck.

Emergency crews from Russian maritime services and the port authority responded, extinguishing the blaze and securing the area. Initial reports indicated no fatalities among the crew, though several sailors were taken aboard rescue vessels for medical evaluation. The incident follows a recent escalation of drone activity in the Black Sea region, prompting heightened security measures for commercial shipping routes. Russian officials have pledged to investigate the source of the drone and to reinforce protective protocols for vessels transiting the area.