Bulker damaged in drone strike in Black Sea as attacks on shipping mount

The Black Sea has been one of the most strategically important fronts in the Russia-Ukraine war. Both sides are stepping up attacks on ports, ships, oil infrastructure and logistics networks in the waterway. For Ukraine, the Black Sea is the country’s primary gateway for agricultural exports, which remain its largest source of foreign currency earnings.

On Tuesday, another strike hit a general cargo/bulker while transiting the Black Sea after departing Odessa, Ukraine, in which there were 22 seafarers including nineteen Azerbaijani, one Turkish, one Ukrainian and one Egyptian.                                

The Panama-flagged vessel Lady Zehma (IMO 9303431) sustained damage following a reported two attacks, a drone strike and a rocket attack, on July 21. The impact resulted in damage to one of the vessel’s cargo holds, the