Turkish cargo ship Reyhan Sarı hit by drone in Black Sea, one crew member dead

A Turkish‑flagged bulk carrier, MV Reyhan Sarı, was struck by an unmanned aerial vehicle while transiting the Black Sea near the Russian port of Novorossiysk. The vessel was carrying coal from Russia’s Taman port to the Turkish port of Trabzon when the drone impact caused severe damage to the ship’s communications systems and ignited a fire in the engine room.

The attack killed 54‑year‑old mechanic Savaş Çakar, who was in the engine room at the time, and wounded three crew members. Two of the injured were air‑lifted to hospitals in Samsun, while a third remained aboard. Despite the damage, the ship retained propulsion and continued under its own power to reach Trabzon, where it docked after a bomb‑sweep and forensic examination of the deceased.

Turkish authorities, including the Coast Guard, AFAD and local fire services, responded to the incident. Video and drone‑camera footage of the strike have been released, showing the moment of impact and the resulting smoke and debris. Ukrainian forces have claimed responsibility for a broader drone campaign against vessels in the Black Sea, though the specific perpetrator of this attack has not been officially confirmed.