The Turkish ship M/V MARIAM M was allegedly targeted in a drone attack off the coast of Ukraine. The captain and pilot were allegedly killed, while 13 people were reportedly injured.
However, there is no verified information about when the incident occurred, its exact location, or the ship’s flag, owner, operator and IMO number. No confirmed statement on the M/V MARIAM M incident has been issued by Türkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, the General Directorate of Maritime Affairs or the Ukrainian authorities.
Maritime routes in and around the Black Sea and Ukraine have become security-risk areas for commercial vessels during the Russia-Ukraine war. Ships sailing near the ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk and Izmail, as well as along maritime corridors, have previously been affected by drone and missile attacks.
In May 2026, a Vanuatu-flagged bulk carrier owned by a Turkish company allegedly came under a drone attack while sailing from Odesa to Türkiye, and two Turkish crew members reportedly sustained minor injuries. In July 2026, the Tanzanian-flagged Atlas Bey, also owned by a Turkish company, allegedly came under attack off the coast of Odesa; its Azerbaijani captain was reported missing, while the other crew members were brought ashore.
Also in July, the Turkish-flagged Reyhan Sarı allegedly came under a drone attack in the Black Sea, reportedly killing one seafarer and injuring three others. There is no verified connection indicating that the Atlas Bey and Reyhan Sarı incidents involved the same vessel as M/V MARIAM M or were part of the same attack. The ship’s name and casualty figures should therefore not be conflated with those of other incidents before they are confirmed.
