Deadly Wave of Black Sea Commercial Vessel Attacks: Golden Rose, Gas Lisbon, and MV Reyhan Sarı

Gas Lisbon (LPG tanker)

• Flag/ownership: Ukrainian-flagged LPG tanker carrying propane to the Ukrainian port of Reni .
• Date and location: Struck July 21, approximately 40 km off the Romanian coast, outside Romania's territorial waters .
• Suspected source: Romania's president said the strike was "most likely" a Russian attack and launched a probe .
• Crew casualties: 1 sailor died in a Romanian hospital from inhalation injuries and pulmonary complications; 2 other crew members (Philippine nationals) remained in intensive care as of July 23 . Three crew were wounded initially .
• Crew nationalities: At least Filipino citizens were among the injured .

MV Reyhan Sarı

• Flag/ownership: Turkish-flagged bulk carrier .
• Date and location: Struck July 22–23 near Novorossiysk, Russia, while carrying coal from Russia's Port of Taman to Trabzon, Turkey .
• Suspected source: Drone attack. Russian state media attributes it to Ukraine as part of its anti-shipping campaign . Ukraine has not officially claimed it.
• Crew casualties: 1 Turkish crew member killed (engine room fatality), 3 others injured .
• Crew nationalities: All reported crew were Turkish nationals .

Key Uncertainties

• The source of the MV Reyhan Sarı attack is contested: Russian state media attributes it to Ukraine (Operation MoLoChKa) , while Ukraine has not officially claimed it.
• The death toll on the Gas Lisbon may rise above the 1 confirmed death, as two Philippine crew remained in intensive care as of July 23 .
• Some sources refer to the first vessel as "Golden Leo" rather than "Golden Rose," though they appear to describe the same incident .

How Greece Has Responded

Greece owns one of the world's largest merchant fleets and has been directly affected by repeated Black Sea attacks throughout 2026. On July 22, 2026, Greece's Shipping Ministry issued an advisory recommending that all Greek-flagged commercial ships upgrade security measures when sailing in the Black Sea, citing "increased tension" following the string of tanker attacks . This follows earlier Greek actions: in January 2026, Athens warned ship operators to reassess security protocols for Russian ports after drone strikes on two Greek-managed tankers (Matilda and Delta Harmony) . In March 2026, a Greek-flagged oil tanker was also hit by a projectile or drone near Novorossiysk . Greece has formally condemned attacks on civilian ships of Greek interests, warning that such incidents endanger crew safety and the marine environment .

Ukraine's Call at the UN

Ukraine's acting Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, said that at least three civilian cargo ships had been attacked by Russia in recent days and that, as a result, zero vessels were passing through Ukraine's Black Sea grain corridor . Ukraine has formally requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council for July 27, 2026 . Sybiha warned: "Millions of families across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America may face rising prices and hunger if this terror continues" . He urged all states, particularly those affected, to demand Russia stop its attacks on civilian shipping .

Ukraine's Broader Maritime Drone Campaign (Operation MoLoChKa)

Ukraine has been conducting an intensifying offensive drone campaign against Russia's "shadow fleet" —tankers and cargo ships that Russia uses to evade sanctions and supply its forces. Key details:

• Operation MoLoChKa (Ukrainian: "Молочка") was launched on July 6, 2026, using naval and aerial attack drones .
• Scope: By mid-July, Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces struck at least 172 vessels total: 118 in the Sea of Azov and 54 in the Black Sea (as of July 17) .
• Major strikes:
  • July 15: Ukraine hit 20 Russian shadow-fleet vessels in a single night in the Black Sea: 17 oil tankers, 2 gas tankers, and 1 tugboat .
  • July 17: Another 12 vessels hit (9 cargo ships, 1 oil tanker, 1 gas tanker, 1 tugboat), bringing the total to 159+ Russian shadow-fleet vessels struck .
  • Sea Baby naval drones have been adapted as launch platforms for FPV attack drones, extending Ukraine's strike reach .
• Target type: The campaign specifically targets Russia-linked merchant ships transporting oil, gas, coal, and military supplies, rather than purely naval vessels .