Overview
- Ukraine said its long-range strikes on July 25 hit vessels in the Caspian Sea that Kyiv believes were carrying Iran-linked military cargo, a move President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described as part of efforts to choke Russian supply chains.
- Iran formally protested, summoned Ukraine’s chargé d’affaires and said one sailor was killed and others wounded in the Caspian attack, warning the incident "cannot go unanswered" and calling the strike a violation of international law.
- Russia backed Tehran publicly, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov condemning the attack and identifying the vessel as the Anna/Ana, while Iran’s envoy to Moscow later said the ship was civilian and carried no military cargo, producing competing factual claims.
- Separately, strikes on commercial vessels in the Black Sea damaged a ship at Odesa on July 25 that carried four Indian nationals; two are confirmed safe and two remain missing as India has summoned Kyiv’s ambassador and issued maritime advisories.
- Shipping groups and governments warn the expanded campaign of targeting dual-use maritime routes raises risks for seafarers, could disrupt trade corridors, and may prompt further diplomatic or military responses that increase regional tensions.