Drone Attack on Panama-Flagged Ship in the Black Sea Kills 1 and Injures 2

PANAMA CITY June 19:  One crew ​member was killed and two more ‌injured after a drone attack on a Panama-flagged ship in the Black Sea, ​Panama’s Maritime Authority (AMP) said late ​on Friday.  The AMP said the incident ⁠occurred on Thursday and that ​one of the injured sailors was ​in serious condition. The ship was able to continue on its course, it added. 

The ​authority added that it has “activated ​the relevant protocols to gather official information on ‌the ⁠incident and maintains communication with the parties involved.”  The AMP did not say where the drone attack came ​from, but ​advised ships ⁠to avoid traveling through Ukrainian and Russian waters ​in the Black Sea and ​the ⁠Sea of Azov, to the north.  Panama operates the world’s largest ship registry ⁠with ​roughly 16% of the ​global merchant fleet sailing under its flag. Other new sources are reporting below.

Russian Drones Hit Ships Flying Panama and Saint Kitts and Nevis Flags

Russia attacked ships flying the flags of Panama and Saint Kitts and Nevis in the Black Sea.  Oleksii Kuleba, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration and Minister for Communities and Territories Development, reported on this.  As a result of the attack, one crew member was killed and five others were injured. 

“As a result of the Russian drone attack on civilian vessels in the Black Sea, a crew member aboard a ship flying the Panamanian flag was killed. Two other sailors were injured, one of them seriously,” Kuleba said. “My sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased.”

A vessel flying the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis also came under attack, with three crew members sustaining minor injuries.  Emergency services are currently working at the scene following the attack. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed.

“Vessels have resumed operations, and port infrastructure is functioning while taking the security situation into account,” said Oleh Kiper, head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration.