Two Filipino seafarers killed, one missing in Black Sea drone attacks

MANILA — Two Filipino seafarers have died following recent drone attacks on commercial vessels operating in the northern Black Sea, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac confirmed on 20 July 2026.

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) reported that 12 other Filipino crew members sustained injuries, while one seafarer remains missing.

The casualties occurred aboard merchant ships transiting the northern Black Sea or docked at ports in southern Ukraine—a region that continues to see heightened danger due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. DMW records indicate that at least nine vessels carrying Filipino crew members have come under attack while sailing through the northern Black Sea or while berthed at Ukrainian ports.

Secretary Cacdac stated that the identities of the deceased, the missing seafarer, and the specific vessels involved are currently being withheld pending ongoing coordination with shipowners, manning agencies, and the victims' families.

The northern Black Sea remains officially designated as a high-risk, war-like trading area by both the DMW and the International Bargaining Forum (IBF). Merchant vessels in the zone face continuous threats from drone strikes, missile attacks, and naval mines. Under international maritime labor agreements, Filipino seafarers deployed to these waters are entitled to special safety protocols and war-risk provisions.

The DMW assured that it is actively monitoring the developments and coordinating with employer agencies to extend full assistance to the affected seafarers and their families.