Drone-Damaged Nadezhda Vessel Towed to Turkey’s Samsun Port

Dragon Media News Desk

The Nadezhda cargo vessel, which was damaged in a drone attack near Russia’s port city of Novorossiysk, has been towed to the Turkish port of Samsun, according to Turkey’s IHA news agency.

An inspection of the vessel found extensive damage to its deck, cargo holds and engine room, IHA reported. The damage was described as severe enough to leave the ship with little operational capability.

According to the Turkish Transport Ministry, the Ro Ro type vessel Nadezhda was sailing from the Russian port of Novorossiysk to Samsun when it was struck by drones on August 3, 2026, about 20 nautical miles off the coast of Novorossiysk.

There were 22 crew members onboard at the time of the incident, including 13 Turkish citizens, the ministry said.

Following the attacks on the Nadezhda and another Turkish civilian vessel, the Yasar, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry expressed serious concern over the escalating situation in the Black Sea.

The ministry warned that failure to take preventive measures to contain the conflict could have serious consequences, including risks to food security.

The incidents involving the Nadezhda and Yasar have also heightened Turkish concerns over the safety of civilian navigation in the Black Sea and the need to prevent further escalation in the region.