Ukrainian drone attacks on Taganrog Port hit two Turkish-owned vessels, raising security concerns for maritime operations in the region.
Russia's Taganrog Port and its surroundings on the Sea of Azov have been the scene of one of Ukraine's most extensive drone attacks in recent days. During the attacks, it was reported that two commercial vessels were targeted, one flying the Turkish flag and the other being Turkish-owned.
According to initial assessments, the Turkish-flagged chemical and oil tanker named Sabahat Telli, owned by Gemiciler Maritime, was hit during the attack while it was in Taganrog Port. Damage occurred on the approximately 100-meter-long vessel, but initial reports indicated that there were no casualties or injuries among the crew.
The second vessel reported to have been targeted in the attacks was the Panama-flagged general cargo ship FAVORI (IMO: 8852033). Built in 1980, the ship is part of the Turkish maritime company Güneş Denizcilik's fleet and was reported to have been targeted by the Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces while either en route to Russian ports on the Sea of Azov or docked at the port.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense announced that intensive operations targeting Russian logistics infrastructure in the Sea of Azov and its surroundings have been carried out in the last 96 hours.
According to the ministry's statement, a total of 35 vessels, including shadow fleet tankers, cargo ships, and tugboats, were hit in attacks conducted by the Unmanned Systems Forces. Ukraine also reported that a total of 45 military targets were attacked overnight, including two oil terminals, an ammunition depot, and communication towers.
Russian officials stated that damage occurred around Taganrog Port as a result of the attacks, and fires broke out at some energy facilities, primarily the Ilsky Oil Refinery in the Krasnodar region. Authorities reported that the fires have been brought under control and, according to initial assessments, there were no casualties in the attacks.
Unverified reports from independent sources also claimed that Russian air defense systems in Crimea were damaged during the attacks.
Following reports of fuel restrictions and planned power outages in Crimea in recent days, the Ukrainian administration announced that it has intensified operations targeting Russia's energy and logistics infrastructure.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had previously stated that a roughly 40-day offensive plan aimed at weakening Russia's energy sector and military supply lines is being executed.
The report that the Sabahat Telli and FAVORI vessels were targeted during the same wave of attacks has once again raised concerns about the security risks faced by Turkish-affiliated commercial vessels operating in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.
On the other hand, there are discrepancies between Ukraine's statements regarding the attacks and the information provided by Russian authorities. The extent of the damage sustained by both vessels and all the details of the attack have not yet been verified by independent international sources.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
