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Drone attack on Panama-flagged ship in Black Sea kills 1, injures 2

By Thomson Reuters Jun 19, 2026 | 8:29 PM

PANAMA CITY, June 19 (Reuters) – One crew member was killed and two more ​injured after a drone ‌attack on a Panama-flagged ship in the Black Sea, Panama’s Maritime Authority (AMP) said late on Friday.

The AMP ‌said ​the incident ⁠occurred on Thursday ⁠and that one of the injured sailors was in serious condition. The ship was able ​to continue on its course, it added.

The authority ⁠added that it ⁠has “activated the relevant protocols ​to gather official information on ​the incident and maintains communication ‌with the parties involved.”

The AMP did not say where the drone attack came from, ⁠but advised ships to avoid traveling through Ukrainian and Russian waters in ⁠the ‌Black Sea and ⁠the Sea of Azov, ​to ‌the north.

Panama operates the ​world’s largest ⁠ship registry with roughly 16% of the global merchant fleet sailing under its flag.

(Reporting by Elida Moreno; Editing by ​Sam Holmes)