A drone attack on the Ro-Ro ship NADEZHDA near Novorossiysk led to the evacuation of 13 Turkish crew members on August 3, 2026.
Drone Attack on Ro-Ro Ship Off Novorossiysk: 13 Turkish Seafarers Evacuated
The General Directorate of Maritime Affairs announced via its social media account that the Ro-Ro ship named NADEZHDA, sailing from Russia's Novorossiysk Port to Samsun, was attacked by a drone on August 3, 2026.
According to the statement, the attack occurred while the ship was approximately 20 nautical miles off the coast of Novorossiysk. It was reported that there were a total of 22 crew members on board, including 13 Turkish citizens.
Initial assessments indicated that damage occurred in the living quarters and the bow of the ship, and it was reported that a fire on board was ongoing.
The General Directorate of Maritime Affairs stated that, following discussions with the Russian Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC Novo), information was received that the seafarers aboard the ship were safely evacuated to Novorossiysk Port by Russian maritime assets. Preliminary reports suggested that the health condition of three crew members could be serious.
The statement noted that the fire on the ship was still ongoing and that the risk of further drone attacks in the area prevented the rescue operation from being carried out at this stage.
The General Directorate of Maritime Affairs emphasized that developments regarding the incident are being closely monitored, expressing, 'We extend our best wishes to all our seafarers and hope they reunite with their families in good health as soon as possible.'
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
