UAV event in Black Sea off Odesa, Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Emil area, Ukraine on Wed 5th August 2026

Russian Drones Strike German-Owned Cargo Ship Off Odesa, Hit Again During Evacuation.

In brief: Russian drones struck the German-owned, Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Emil off Odesa, disabling the vessel and reportedly hitting it again as its 11-member crew evacuated.

Russian attack drones repeatedly struck a German-owned commercial cargo ship in the Black Sea off Odesa, disabling the vessel and hitting it again as its crew was evacuating.

The Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Emil was attacked on Aug. 5 about 39 kilometers (24 miles) off Odesa, according to Deutsche Welle. Several technical systems were knocked out, a fire broke out aboard the vessel and the ship was left unable to maneuver.

As the crew evacuated, another Russian drone struck the vessel, according to the report.

The Emil is linked to Hamburg-based shipping company Johann M. K. Blumenthal GmbH & Co. KG. Maritime databases list the nearly 292-meter vessel as a bulk carrier with a deadweight of about 175,000 tons.

A second merchant vessel, the Guinea-Bissau-flagged Mera Queen, was also damaged. The ship was carrying grain.

Moscow acknowledged attacking merchant vessels near Odesa, claiming they were transporting military equipment for Ukraine. It provided no publicly verifiable evidence supporting that assertion. 

German businesses also hit in Russian strikes

The maritime attack came within hours of a massive Russian missile and drone barrage against Kyiv and the surrounding region that devastated civilian businesses and logistics infrastructure.

Warehouses and distribution facilities belonging to or supplying major companies were among those destroyed or damaged, including German brands Puma and Liqui Moly, as well as Ukrainian retailers and logistics companies.

Liqui Moly confirmed that a warehouse holding its products was destroyed, causing damages estimated in the millions, while no employees were injured. The company is working to restore its supply chain.