Analysts have assessed Russian attacks on vessels in Black Sea
From January to September 2025, 11 Russian attacks on vessels have been recorded in Odesa Oblast ports, damaging 13 civilian ships and a naval vessel.
Source: Andrii Klymenko, Head of the Black Sea and Baltic Strategic Research Monitoring Group at the Black Sea Institute of Strategic Studies
Quote: "Based on updated data, in January-September 2025, our monitoring group has recorded 11 attacks on vessels in Odesa Oblast ports, as a result of which 13 civilian vessels and 1 naval ship have been damaged."
Details: Klymenko said that there had been no strikes on ships in September, but there had been five attacks in August (including a strike on a naval vessel) and five attacks in July. June – none, May – one, April – none, March – three vessels, and in January-February no information had been received.
The vessels were attacked in the Odesa Sea Port, Chornomorsk Sea Port and Izmail Sea Port; in ports of the Danube area; in the coastal waters of the Black Sea and in the Danube estuary.
Klymenko said that the weapons used for the attacks included ballistic missiles, strike UAVs, uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) and naval mines.
On 1 March 2025, the bulk carrier Super Sarkas (Sierra Leone flag) and the container ship MSC Levante F (Panama flag) were hit by ballistic missiles in the Odesa Sea Port.
On 11 March 2025, the bulk carrier MJ Pinar (Barbados flag) in the Odesa Sea Port was damaged in a ballistic strike on the port; four crew members were killed.
Quote: "On 23 May 2025, an Iskander-M ballistic missile damaged a container ship in Odesa Sea Port (the information published in the media was not confirmed, and the vessel's name was not disclosed – ed.)."
More details: On 3 July 2025, a bulk carrier AJ Rose (IMO 9217785, Saint Kitts and Nevis flag) was damaged by an Iskander-M ballistic missile in the Odesa Sea Port (it was reported earlier of a ship under the São Tomé and Príncipe flag which could not be identified – ed.). Two crew members were killed.
On 6 July 2025, a bulk carrier Marika was attacked. The place of impact, nature of damage and other details were not established.
On 6 July 2025, a general cargo ship Zeibek (IMO 8213732, Moldova flag) was attacked. The place of impact, nature of damage and other details were not established.
On 8 July 2025, a bulk carrier Amadore (IMO 8520824, Malta flag) was attacked. The place of impact, nature of damage and other details were not established.
On 23 July 2025, a civilian dredger Inhulskyi belonging to the state-owned company Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority, likely struck a mine in the Bystre mouth of the Danube River. Three crew members were killed.
August:
On 8 August 2025, a bulk carrier Moayad Y (IMO 9135482, Comoros flag), deadweight tonnage of nearly 24,000 tonnes, was attacked. The place of impact, nature of damage and other details were not established.
On 20 August 2025, a chemical/product tanker Excellion (Panama flag, IMO 9428437) was seriously damaged in a strike by attack UAVs on the oil terminal of the Izmail Sea Port by the blast wave and resulting fire.
On 28 August 2025, a Ukrainian naval vessel Simferopol was attacked in the Danube estuary near a berth. One sailor was killed, and several others were injured.
On 31 August 2025, a general cargo ship NS Pride (IMO 8815293, Belize flag) was damaged after striking an unidentified munition while leaving the Chornomorsk Sea Port.
On 31 August 2025, a ferry Heroi Shypky under the Ukrainian flag was damaged. It was likely damaged in the Chornomorsk Sea Port. The nature of the damage was not established.
Background:
- On the evening of 23 July 2025, a dredger belonging to the Delta-Lotsman (Delta-Pilot) branch of the state-owned company Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority exploded in the Danube River. The vessel had been in the Bystre estuary carrying out scheduled works with 11 crew members on board. Three employees were killed in the explosion. The maritime approach canal was temporarily closed to vessel traffic.
- The dredger Inhulskiy, which had previously been damaged while working in the mouth of the Bystre estuary, had been recovered from the bottom and sent for technical inspection, which will determine the scope and procedure for repairs.
- On the morning of 31 August 2025, a civilian vessel was damaged in an explosion near the Chornomorsk port. It was reported that there were no casualties among the crew and the vessel sustained minor damage.
- Russia launched a large-scale drone attack on Odesa Oblast on the night of 30-31 August, with the city of Chornomorsk and its outskirts suffering the most.
- It was reported earlier that since the launch of the Ukrainian maritime corridor, over 5,300 vessels had carried over 137 million tonnes of cargo, including over 84 million tonnes of agricultural exports.
- In the first eight months of 2025, Ukrainian seaports handled 134,191 TEU, the highest figure since the start of the full-scale war.
- Andrii Kashuba, Deputy Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, said that Ukraine needs at least €1 billion to restore its port infrastructure.
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