00:09A major drone attack has once again exposed how dangerous the Black Sea has become.
00:15This time, the target was not a warship, but a Turkish-linked cargo vessel carrying fresh fruit and vegetables.
00:22The Cameroon-flagged roll-on-roll-off cargo ship Nadezhda was struck by drones on August 3, around 20 to
00:3130 nautical miles off Russia's Black Sea port of Novorossiysk.
00:36According to Turkey's Directorate General of Maritime Affairs, the attack happened at around 4.30 in the evening Turkey time.
00:44The vessel is operated by Samson-based Kalyoncu shipping and regularly sails between Samson and Novorossiysk.
00:53There were 22 crew members on board, including 13 Turkish citizens.
00:59The attack caused significant damage to the bow and crew living quarters.
01:04A fire broke out on the ship, and while the crew tried to control the flames, rescue efforts were complicated
01:10because drones were still active in the area.
01:13Reports say between three and four crew members were injured, including Turkish nationals, with Turkish authorities indicating that at least
01:22three may have suffered serious injuries.
01:25Despite the chaos, every crew member was safely evacuated by Russian rescue teams and taken to Novorossiysk.
01:33The captain, Yalchin Shaheen, claimed that six or seven drones struck the vessel and blamed Ukraine for the attack.
01:41However, Turkish authorities have only confirmed that the ship was hit by drones and have not officially identified who carried
01:49out the strike.
01:50Neither Ukraine nor Russia immediately claimed responsibility, and there has been no independent confirmation of the attacker's identity.
01:59The incident comes as maritime drone warfare continues to intensify across the Black Sea.
02:05In recent months, ports, naval facilities, and commercial vessels near Russia's coastline have increasingly found themselves caught in the crossfire
02:14of the Russia-Ukraine war.
02:16For shipping companies, the risks are growing.
02:20Every new attack raises concerns over crew safety, higher insurance costs, and disruptions to vital trade routes carrying food and
02:28agricultural products between Turkey and Russia.
02:31As investigations continue, one thing is becoming increasingly clear.
02:37The Black Sea is no longer just a military battleground.
02:41It has become one of the world's most dangerous commercial shipping corridors,
02:45where civilian cargo vessels are now facing the growing threat of modern drone warfare.
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