Russian drones damage civilian rescue tugboat Sapfir in Odesa Oblast port
Russian drones struck a port in Odesa Oblast on 13 September 2026, damaging the civilian search-and-rescue tugboat Sapfir. Ukraine's Ministry of Restoration, Infrastructure and Transport said no casualties were reported and called the strike a gross violation of international humanitarian and maritime law, announcing it would notify the International Maritime Organization and international partners.
Key points
- Russian drones struck a port in Odesa Oblast on 13 September 2026, damaging the civilian SAR tugboat Sapfir.
- The Sapfir is a Ukrainian state-operated civilian search-and-rescue vessel registered in Odesa, built in 1988 (Project 1454, type Napolehlyvyi).
- The vessel bore clear SAR markings in accordance with international maritime conventions and performed exclusively civilian functions.
- Ukraine's Ministry of Restoration, Infrastructure and Transport characterized the strike as a gross violation by Russia of international humanitarian and maritime law.
- Ukraine said it would notify the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and international partners and demand an appropriate response.
- On the same day, Russia carried out a massive combined attack on Odesa city, damaging apartment buildings, private houses and other civilian infrastructure.
Why it matters
The Sapfir is not a military target. It is a clearly marked civilian search-and-rescue vessel operating under international SAR conventions, and striking it raises serious questions about Russia's compliance with international humanitarian and maritime law. The incident fits an escalating pattern of attacks on Odesa Oblast port and civilian infrastructure, including a combined strike on Odesa city the same day. Ukraine's plan to raise the attack at the IMO puts the international protection of civilian shipping squarely back on the agenda.
What happened
On 13 September 2026, Russian drones struck a port in Odesa Oblast and damaged the civilian search-and-rescue tugboat Sapfir. According to preliminary information from Ukraine's Ministry of Restoration, Infrastructure and Transport, no one was killed or injured. The ministry said the vessel had clear civilian SAR markings in accordance with international maritime conventions and performed exclusively civilian search-and-rescue functions. Ukraine characterized the strike as another gross violation by Russia of international humanitarian and maritime law, and announced it would inform the International Maritime Organization and international partners and demand an appropriate response. The same day, Russia also carried out a massive combined attack on Odesa city, damaging apartment buildings, private houses and other civilian infrastructure.
Background
The Sapfir is a Ukrainian state-operated civilian search-and-rescue tugboat (Project 1454, built 1988), registered in the port of Odesa with unlimited area of navigation and the capacity for underwater operations to 50 metres. On 26 February 2022, a Russian military ship seized the Sapfir near Snake Island while it was conducting a humanitarian SAR mission; the 17 crew members and 4 civilians on board, including a doctor and clergy, were taken captive. The captive crew were held in conditions described as inhumane. Sixteen crew members and a doctor were returned on 25 March 2022 in the first prisoner exchange, and the vessel itself was returned to Ukraine in April 2022, arriving in Izmail on 11 April 2022 after being towed from Sulina, Romania. The Sapfir has previously assisted Ukrainian Navy vessels and responded to incidents such as the shelling of the Millennial Spirit tanker in the Black Sea.