A ferry loaded with fuel tanks sank in the Russian port of Kavkaz in the Krasnodar region on Thursday following a Ukrainian attack, according to local authorities.
The ferry, which was carrying 30 fuel tanks, sustained severe damage from the strike, leading to a fire, confirmed Fyodor Babenkov, head of the Temryuk district, where the port is located.
Authorities are still assessing potential casualties. Unofficial reports from the Telegram news channel Baza indicate that 15 people were on board and are currently missing. Ukraine has not yet commented on the incident.
The Russian state news agency TASS, citing the Ministry of Transport, reported that all port workers were safely evacuated. A special firefighting train was dispatched to combat the blaze, with more than 100 personnel involved in the operation.
Several Russian media outlets have circulated images and videos showing large plumes of black smoke rising from the burning vessel, although Reuters has not been able to independently verify the footage.
Despite the severity of the fire, TASS reported that it did not spread to the port’s facilities. The port of Kavkaz, a key hub on the Black Sea, plays a vital role in Russiaโs exports and in supplying fuel to Crimea.
