Russian Grain Ship Believed To Have Sunk After Ukrainian Drone Attack Found And Towed Ashore, 3 Dead

A Russian cargo ship carrying wheat, which was earlier believed to have sunk after a Ukrainian drone attack in the Sea of Azov, has been found and towed to shore.

The death toll from the incident has risen to three, according to state news agency TASS.

The attack took place on 5 April. The vessel was transporting wheat from the Port of Azov, near Rostov, to Port Kavkaz, a key point where grain is usually transferred to larger ships for export. This route is part of an important grain trade corridor.

Russian emergency services said the ship caught fire after the strike and began to sink. It was later located and towed to the village of Kuchugury in Russia’s Krasnodar region. A video released by TASS showed the vessel on fire with heavy smoke.

Officials said two badly burned bodies were found on board, taking the total number of deaths to three. An aide to the captain had earlier been reported dead.

According to public ship databases, vessels in the Volgo-Balt 138 class have a deadweight of about 3,165 tonnes and are commonly used for carrying cargo like grain on river and coastal routes.

Grain consultancy Sovecon said this is the first known case since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022 where a grain-loaded ship in the Black Sea-Azov region was damaged to the point it nearly sank.

Analysts said the incident adds to concerns about global food supply and agricultural trade, especially at a time when tensions linked to the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran are already affecting shipping risks.

Sovecon head Andrey Sizov said that with limited diplomatic progress between Washington, Moscow and Kyiv, the chances of further escalation in the region have increased.

The Black Sea and Sea of Azov are major routes for grain exports, and any disruption in this area is closely watched by shipping companies and traders.

References: reuters, bairdmaritime