Metro Manila, Philippines – Two Filipino seafarers were killed in separate drone attacks on commercial ships in the Black Sea off southern Ukraine, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said on Monday, July 20.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac said one was killed on July 6, the other on July 19.
The DMW said it has coordinated with the family of the first victim and is reaching out to the family of the second, while efforts are underway to repatriate their remains.
The DMW also reported that 12 other Filipinos were injured in the attacks, one remains missing, while 124 others are safe and unharmed.
Four of the injured have been repatriated, while the remaining eight continue to receive medical treatment, psychological support, and assistance for evacuation and eventual repatriation.
As of July 20, Cacdac said nine commercial vessels carrying Filipino crew members have come under drone attack while transiting or docking in the Black Sea in Russia and Ukraine.
The DMW said it continues to coordinate with licensed manning agencies and shipowners to provide assistance and ensure the safety of affected Filipino seafarers.
The department also reiterated its advisory urging shipowners and manning agencies to avoid or reroute voyages through high-risk, war-like areas whenever possible.
If travel through these areas cannot be avoided, the DMW said seafarers must be informed of the risks and allowed to exercise their right to refuse deployment before the voyage begins.
