Image Credit: RTVI
A Ukrainian strike targeted a railway ferry loaded with fuel tanks at Kavkaz port in Russia’s Temryuk district on the evening of August 22, as reported by the region’s operational headquarters and cited by Russian media outlets. The attack, described as an “attempted terrorist act by the Kyiv regime,” resulted in the ferry sinking after sustaining heavy damage. Emergency crews, including a fire train and 34 pieces of equipment, were mobilized to contain the fire.
The incident led to a temporary halt of traffic on the nearby Crimean Bridge, which shares the Kerch Strait with the Kavkaz port. Initial reports indicated that five individuals were on the ferry during the attack, but emergency services later revealed that 17 crew members were rescued, while two others remain missing. The search operation continues as authorities work to prevent environmental damage from the spilled fuel.
The Russian Ministry of Transport, quoted by TASS, assured that the situation at the Kavkaz seaport is under control, with all port employees safely evacuated. However, the fate of several crew members remains uncertain, as conflicting reports emerged from various sources. Baza, a Russian news outlet, mentioned that 15 crew members’ whereabouts were unknown, while Governor of Krasnodar Territory Veniamin Kondratyev confirmed the ongoing search for the remaining two.
Russian and Ukrainian telegram channels were among the first to report the attack, with eyewitnesses sharing photos and videos of the fire. The Shot telegram channel claimed that a Neptune missile launched from the Odessa region was responsible for the strike, while Mash reported the use of a Storm Shadow missile.
This incident marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, raising concerns about the security of critical infrastructure in the region.