Ukrainian rescuers save Filipino sailor from ship hit by Russian drone
Ukraine's Maritime Guard rescues a man in the Black Sea (photo: dpsu.gov.ua)
A search-and-rescue operation concluded in the Black Sea during the night of July 19. A Filipino crew member from the drone-struck cargo ship Venturo was rescued from open waters, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine reports.
Rescue operation details
On the evening of July 18, border guards detected a small watercraft in the Black Sea using technical surveillance equipment.
A small vessel from the State Border Guard Service Maritime Guard was immediately dispatched to carry out the search-and-rescue mission.
The crew rescued the cargo ship's electro-mechanical engineer, a citizen of the Republic of the Philippines, from a lifeboat.
#Filipino crew member rescued by #Ukraine in the Black Sea after Russian drone strikes cargo ship pic.twitter.com/Vis8jxOOk1
— RBC-Ukraine (@NewsUkraineRBC) July 19, 2026
Background
The Venturo cargo ship was struck by a Russian attack drone on the evening of July 17. Most of the crew members were evacuated the same day by personnel from the Ukrainian Navy.
However, one crew member remained adrift in a lifeboat in open waters. He was located by Ukrainian border guards the following day.
Maritime Guard of Ukraine rescues a Venturo crew member in the Black Sea (photo: dpsu.gov.ua)
Maritime Guard of Ukraine rescues a Venturo crew member in the Black Sea (photo: dpsu.gov.ua)
Maritime Guard of Ukraine rescues a Venturo crew member in the Black Sea (photo: dpsu.gov.ua)
Maritime Guard of Ukraine rescues a Venturo crew member in the Black Sea (photo: dpsu.gov.ua)
Maritime Guard of Ukraine rescues a Venturo crew member in the Black Sea (photo: dpsu.gov.ua)
Maritime Guard work conditions
The operation was performed under extremely challenging conditions, in complete darkness and under the constant threat of follow-up strikes by remotely operated Russian drones.
Despite the high level of danger, the Maritime Guard personnel completed the mission and safely brought the rescued sailor ashore.
After an examination, the crew member was found to be in satisfactory condition and did not require medical attention.
As previously reported, on the evening of July 17, Russian forces struck a Marshall Islands-flagged vessel in the Port of Odesa.
The following day, Russia launched another large-scale attack on the Odesa region, with another foreign commercial vessel coming under attack in the Black Sea.
