The Black Sea has become the world's most dangerous area for commercial shipping in terms of seafarer deaths in 2026, according to a Financial Times investigation into attacks on vessels and port infrastructure during Russia's continuing war against Ukraine.
The newspaper's analysis found that more than 570 vessels had been struck in the Black Sea since the beginning of the year and at least 40 sailors had been killed. By comparison, the FT cited 24 confirmed deaths in the Strait of Hormuz.
The newspaper identified a particularly sharp increase in attacks between July and September. According to its calculations, 387 vessels were struck during those three months, more than five times the number recorded in the preceding quarter.
The FT also reported that approximately 90% of attacks on commercial shipping during the final 45 days of the period it examined were attributed to Russian actions. The detailed methodology used to identify every incident and assign responsibility could not be independently reproduced, so those figures are presented solely as the newspaper's findings.
The risks faced by crews extend beyond direct strikes. Shipping operations have been disrupted by naval mines, satellite navigation interference and damage to port infrastructure. According to the FT, attacks have increasingly affected parts of vessels containing crew accommodation and navigation bridges.
Greater wartime risks have also driven up insurance costs. In some cases, the FT reported, war-risk insurance premiums can reach 15% of a vessel's value. This imposes additional costs on shipping companies and may influence which vessels operators deploy on dangerous routes.
The effects extend to agricultural exports from both Ukraine and Russia. Reduced port activity and higher transport costs affect food importers in Africa and Asia, as well as the financial position of Ukrainian agricultural producers.
These conclusions are based on a Financial Times investigation. The full article is behind a subscription paywall, and Potok has not independently reproduced some of the newspaper's quantitative findings or conclusions.