International

Ukrainian sea drone hits Russian tanker near Crimea Bridge, second such attack in 24 hours 

In this image from video made available on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, a seaborne drone approaches a Russian tanker on the Black Sea. Ukrainian drones have hit a Russian tanker in the Black Sea near Crimea, according to Russian officials. The strike was the second sea attack involving drones in one day, after Ukraine said its sea drones also struck a major Russian port earlier on Friday. (AP Photo)

Ukraine reportedly hit a second ship, a Russian tanker, in the Black Sea Friday.

The attack took place near Crimea Friday night, according to a social media video and Russian officials. The hit on the boat was allegedly the second for Ukraine in the same day in the Black Sea by drones, the other reportedly hitting a Russian naval ship in the port of Novorossiysk.

Russia condemned the event, calling it a “terrorist attack.”

“There can be no justification for such barbaric actions, they will not go unanswered and their authors and perpetrators will inevitably be punished,” Russian Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote to the Associated Press on the Telegram messaging app.

The Novorossiysk attack, which the Russian Defense Ministry claims its navy fended off, comes a few weeks after Moscow withdrew from an important wartime grain export deal between the two countries. The deal allowed Ukraine to ship grain out of its southern ports to countries in Asia, Africa and the Middle East

The Russian Defense Ministry said the navy’s ships destroyed two Ukrainian sea drones during the attack. Novorossiysk contains a Russian naval base, as well as other important industrial functions like an oil terminal. 

A Ukrainian official with the country’s Security Service confirmed to the AP that it is responsible for the attack. 

The Associated Press contributed reporting. This story was updated at 3:15.