Drone strike hits container ship Aurelia in Black sea after departing Novorossiysk

Incidence - On January 17, 2026, the container ship Aurelia, flying the Cameroonian flag and owned by Turkish interests, was targeted by a drone attack about 80 nautical miles off the Russian Black Sea coast soon after departing Novorossiysk, one of Russia’s major export hubs.

Impact -

• The drone struck containers on the starboard side of the vessel, damaging several units.

• A small fire broke out in one container row but was contained quickly.

• All 16 crew members, including Turkish nationals, were reported safe and unharmed.

•   Damage was confined to cargo containers rather than key ship systems, meaning Aurelia did not sustain structural harm that threatened seaworthiness.

After the incident, Aurelia diverted and sailed under control to Samsun Port in Turkey, where the damaged containers were individually unloaded with cranes.

This attack on Aurelia is part of a pattern of maritime incidents linked to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia — especially in the Black Sea region, where commercial and naval traffic intersect with ongoing military operations.

The Port of Novorossiysk has been repeatedly targeted in recent months by Ukrainian drones and missiles aiming at Russian export infrastructure. These strikes have hit oil terminals and precipitated temporary shutdowns, reflecting a strategy to disrupt Russia’s export revenues and logistics networks.

Below are the details of the container ship attacked

• Name – Aurelia

• Flag – Cameroon

• INO no. – 9121895

• Call sign - TJM5185

• Type – Container ship

No group has publicly claimed responsibility for the strike on Aurelia, and investigations are ongoing, including by Turkish authorities.

The attack comes amid a broader maritime drone campaign linked to Ukraine’s defense strategy — including well-documented strikes on vessels associated with Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” under Western sanctions.

Whether this specific strike was part of that wider campaign or a misidentified weapon instance remains unconfirmed at this stage.