Turkey confirms drone attack on ship off Novorossiysk, three crew seriously hurt
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Turkish authorities confirmed on Sunday that a drone strike hit the Turkish-crewed cargo vessel Nadezhda about 20 nautical miles off the Russian port of Novorossiysk, leaving the ship ablaze and three crew members potentially in serious condition. The 22-strong crew, which included 13 Turkish nationals, was evacuated to Novorossiysk by Russian naval assets, but ongoing drone threats prevented any rescue operation from reaching the burning vessel.
The Drone Strike
The Ro-Ro vessel Nadezhda, en route from Novorossiysk to the Turkish Black Sea port of Samsun, came under drone attack at around 18:30 local time on Sunday, approximately two hours after departing the Russian port. The strike caused damage to the ship's living quarters and bow, according to Turkey's Directorate General of Maritime Affairs, which said a fire continued to burn on board hours later. Built in 1978 and spanning 119 meters in length, the Nadezhda regularly carried cargo between Turkey and Russia. The attack occurred within Russian territorial waters, though officials did not immediately attribute it to any party.
Crew Evacuation and Injuries
Of the 22 crew members, 13 were Turkish nationals, with the remainder reportedly including Azerbaijani and Indian sailors. Russian authorities evacuated all crew to Novorossiysk port, where medical assessments indicated three personnel might be in serious condition. Turkish maritime officials stated the evacuation was carried out by Russian naval units, but ongoing drone activity in the area prevented firefighting or salvage efforts. No update on the condition of other crew members was immediately available.
What's Next
Turkish maritime authorities said they are monitoring the situation and coordinating with Russian counterparts. It remains unclear when the fire can be extinguished or whether the attack will affect regular cargo traffic between Samsun and Russia.
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Turkey confirms drone attack on ship off Novorossiysk, three crew seriously hurt
