Ukrainian drones sink Russian container ship, Rosatom says

Rosatom said Ukrainian drones sank the Russian-owned container ship Yanina in the Black Sea near the port of Novorossiysk early Saturday, forcing its 17-member crew to abandon the vessel.

Russia's state-owned nuclear power operator said at least two Ukrainian drones struck the cargo ship, which was operated by its shipping subsidiary FESCO. Rosatom said all 17 crew members were rescued and were in good condition.

Rosatom said the ship was carrying civilian goods including frozen food and construction materials. There was no immediate indication that the vessel was carrying nuclear material or working on activities linked to Rosatom's nuclear arm.

Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev called the strike “piracy and robbery at sea” in the company's Telegram statement.

Ukraine did not immediately comment. Kyiv has targeted Russian-flagged ships in the Black Sea during the nearly four-and-a-half-year war and has accused Russia of using the waterway to move sanctioned goods, including oil.

Russia has carried out strikes on Ukrainian port infrastructure and on ships approaching Ukrainian ports since the war began. Kyiv says those attacks are war crimes.