Suspected drone strike hits cargo ship Royad Mammadov in the Black Sea

A cargo ship carrying grain was hit by a suspected drone in the Black Sea on Monday, leaving 13 sailors missing and injuring the captain. The vessel, Royad Mammadov, had just left the Ukrainian port of Izmail and was sailing towards Ravenna in Italy when the incident happened. A fire was reported on board after the strike, and rescue ships were sent to the scene.

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The Romanian Agency for Lifesaving at Sea said the Maritime Coordination Center requested assistance at 10:37 local time on 5 October 2026. The ship was located in the area of the Pescăruș Platform, an offshore oil and gas platform in the Black Sea, around 9 nautical miles from the platform. The vessel sails under the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Reports cited by local media suggested the ship may have been struck by two or three drones, but that detail has not been confirmed. The immediate focus is on the search and rescue operation, with multiple vessels heading to the ship. The reported injury to the captain and the number of missing crew members point to a serious maritime emergency.

The fire on board also raises concerns about the safety of the vessel and any cargo still aboard. No further details have been confirmed about the condition of the missing sailors. The incident comes against a backdrop of heightened concern over security in the Black Sea, where commercial shipping has faced repeated risks during the wider conflict affecting the region.

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Grain shipments from Ukrainian ports remain strategically important for trade and food supply routes. Any attack on a civilian cargo vessel in this corridor can affect shipping confidence, insurance costs and the safety of crews operating in the area. The Royad Mammadov had departed from Izmail, a key Ukrainian port on the Danube, and was bound for Ravenna, a major Italian port.

That route underlines the ship's role in moving agricultural cargo through a sensitive maritime corridor. The involvement of the Romanian rescue agency also shows how neighbouring states are drawn into emergency responses when incidents occur close to their waters or offshore infrastructure. It remains unclear who was responsible for the strike, whether drones were involved as reported, and what damage the vessel sustained beyond the fire and injuries.

The fate of the 13 missing sailors has not been confirmed, and the rescue operation is ongoing. Further official updates are likely to focus on the search effort, the cause of the strike and whether the ship can be safely secured or towed.

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