German cargo ship EMIL disabled and left adrift after Russian drone strikes near Odesa

A German bulk ship was hit by Russian drones near the Ukrainian port of Odesa on August 5 and abandoned at sea after all 11 crew were safely evacuated, the latest in a string of attacks on commercial traffic in the Black Sea.

The EMIL, sailing under a Liberian flag and owned by Hamburg company Johann M. K. Blumenthal GmbH & Co. KG, was struck repeatedly in the evening about 21 nautical miles south of Odesa. A fire broke out on board. The ship was left unable to move. Crew members were brought to safety before a second wave of drones arrived. All 11 on board got out. The EMIL has since been left adrift, with no salvage operation yet confirmed.

Russia's defence ministry acknowledged the attacks on its Telegram channel, saying the targeted ships were carrying military supplies for Ukrainian forces. Ukraine and Western governments have not confirmed any cargo details.

The same night, a Guinea-Bissau-flagged grain ship named MERA QUEEN was also struck in the same area. One crew member was killed aboard.

Further attacks followed on subsequent nights. Russia struck two more ships on August 6, with at least one seafarer killed. Reports indicate an Egyptian sailor died when another foreign ship came under fire in a separate strike.

BBC News described the situation around Odesa as one in which no ship can be assumed safe. The attacks mark a sharp escalation in Russian targeting of commercial traffic that has intensified through late July and early August.

MarineRadar data shows tracking activity in the sea area near the Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk running at five times its usual pace over the past 48 hours. Monitoring in the area has stayed elevated as the attacks have continued.