EditTurkey urges Russia and Ukraine to safeguard Black Sea shipping
A drone strike on Turkish-owned vessel Nadezhda near Novorossiysk seriously injured three crew members
Turkey on Tuesday called on Russia and Ukraine to take concrete steps to ensure navigational safety in the Black Sea after a drone attack struck a Turkish-owned cargo ship Nadezhda near Russia’s Novorossiysk port, seriously injuring three crew members.
Several Turkish and international sources reported that the Cameroon-flagged ro-ro vessel Nadezhda was carrying fresh fruits and vegetables from Turkey (Samsun) to Russia (Novorossiysk) when it was hit.
‼️🇹🇷🔥Footage of the fire and rescue of the "Nadezhda" crew after the attack in the Black Sea
▪️In the video, a Turkish voiceover states that his cargo ship was attacked by 6 drones.
▪️The "Nadezhda," flying the flag of Cameroon, was en route from Turkey to Novorossiysk with a… pic.twitter.com/qMzPa2Wjnf— Beate Landefeld (@BeateLandefeld) August 4, 2026
The Turkish Foreign Ministry expressed serious concern over the targeting of civilian vessels despite repeated warnings, and said it was closely monitoring the condition of its citizens involved. Nadezhda (linked to a Samsun-based Turkish company) was hit on 3 August while sailing from Novorossiysk toward the Turkish port of Samsun, approximately 20 nautical miles offshore. The attack damaged the living quarters and bow, sparked a fire that continued to burn, and forced the evacuation of all 22 crew members (including 13 Turkish nationals) to the Russian port by Russian maritime units.
Preliminary reports indicated three crew members may have sustained critical injuries. The ship’s captain alleged that multiple Ukrainian drones were involved, though this has not been independently confirmed and no party has publicly claimed responsibility.
The incident forms part of a sharp escalation in drone strikes around the Novorossiysk area, a critical Black Sea energy and logistics hub. In recent weeks, Ukrainian forces have conducted repeated attacks targeting commercial tankers and associated infrastructure near the port, particularly those linked to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC).
U.S. urges Kyiv to halt attacks on non-Russian tankers after Black Sea drone strikes
The CPC operates a major terminal with offshore single-point moorings (SPMs) southwest of Novorossiysk. It transports crude primarily from Kazakhstan’s large Tengiz, Kashagan and other fields across southern Russia to the Black Sea for export. The pipeline handles more than 80% of Kazakhstan’s oil exports and accounts for a significant share of global supply (roughly 1–1.5% in some assessments). International shareholders and shippers include major Western energy companies such as Chevron and ExxonMobil.
A series of drone attacks
In July 2026 alone, multiple Ukrainian drone strikes hit tankers loading or waiting near the CPC terminal:
On 19 July, drones struck the Liberian-flagged Asia and Marshall Islands-flagged Nissos Ios while they were loading at SPMs, causing a fire on one vessel.
On 20 July, the Cameroon-flagged Nelsa was hit during loading.
On 30 July, the Marshall Islands-flagged Nissos Sifnos (loading Tengizchevroil crude) and the Isle of Man-flagged Marathi (approaching the terminal) were attacked. A fire broke out on Nissos Sifnos but was extinguished; no oil spills or CPC staff injuries were reported in these cases.
These incidents forced the CPC to suspend oil loadings repeatedly – sometimes for days or a week – disrupting Kazakhstan’s exports, prompting production cuts by Kazakh producers, and causing some tankers to divert or delay. The consortium, Kazakh authoritiesand the U.S. condemned the attacks as threats to civilian energy infrastructure. Loadings and pipeline operations partially resumed in late July (with two SPMs active by early August), though the security situation remains fragile and further interruptions remain possible.
U.S. urges Kyiv to halt attacks on non-Russian tankers after Black Sea drone strikes
Earlier in 2026, Ukrainian drones also struck related facilities in the Novorossiysk complex, including the nearby Sheskharis oil terminal and CPC-linked infrastructure, causing fires, damage to loading piers, storage tanks, and pipeline nodes. Russia has attributed these campaigns to Ukraine and accused Kyiv of deliberately targeting international energy assets; Ukraine has confirmed some strikes on Russian oil infrastructure as part of efforts to degrade Moscow’s war-related logistics and revenue.
The pattern has raised insurance costs, altered shipping routes (with some vessels hugging the Turkish coast for relative safety), and heightened risks for commercial traffic in the Black Sea. Turkey, which controls the Bosporus and maintains significant commercial and diplomatic ties with both sides, has repeatedly warned against the conflict spilling over into civilian maritime routes. Ankara’s latest statement underscores growing regional alarm that continued attacks on shipping near key ports like Novorossiysk could further disrupt energy flows, food security, and freedom of navigation.
Black Sea shipping risks on the rise as importers await Russian, Ukrainian grain
Caption: The attack damaged the living quarters and bow, sparked a fire that continued to burn, and forced the evacuation of all 22 crew members (including 13 Turkish nationals) to the Russian port by Russian maritime units. [@sayfa_16 on X]
Updated: August 4, 2026 - 16:29
