One Dead as Two Merchant Vessels Come Under Attack in Black Sea

Two merchant vessels reportedly came under separate Russian attacks in the Black Sea on 5 August, leaving one seafarer dead and another ship disabled. The Guinea-Bissau-flagged cargo vessel Mera Queen, carrying Ukrainian wheat, was struck in an attack that killed one Ukrainian crew member and injured three others, according to Ukrainian authorities. The remaining crew were evacuated safely, and the damaged vessel was later brought into port for assessment and stabilisation. In a separate incident, the German media reported that a Liberia-flagged bulk carrier Emil was reportedly hit by multiple Russian drones about 21 nautical miles south of Odesa. The attack sparked a fire and temporarily disabled the vessel's technical systems. All 11 crew members were safely evacuated, with no injuries reported.