SAR markings did not stop the Russians: in the Black Sea they attacked civilian rescue boats

Russia attacked two civilian search-and-rescue vessels of the Maritime Search and Rescue Service that were carrying out a humanitarian mission within the Ukrainian maritime corridor. This was reported on 6 June 2026 by the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on its Facebook page. According to the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the enemy struck two boats of the Maritime Search and Rescue Service. These vessels were not performing combat tasks but were involved in a humanitarian mission within the Ukrainian maritime corridor.

The Navy emphasized that both boats, in accordance with the norms of international law, had the appropriate color and markings SAR. This abbreviation comes from the English Search and Rescue and indicates that the vessel is intended for searching for and rescuing people at sea. As a result of the Russian attack there are injured among the civilian personnel. Their evacuation by vessels of the Naval Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces is ongoing.

The Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stressed that search-and-rescue vessels enjoy special protection under international humanitarian law. In particular, Article 27 of the Second Geneva Convention of 1949 provides protection for vessels that are used by the state or by officially recognized rescue organizations exclusively for conducting search-and-rescue operations and for providing assistance to people at sea. This attack became further evidence that Russia deliberately ignores the norms of international law. An attack on vessels marked SAR – is not just another episode of war at sea, but a direct threat to humanitarian missions and to the safe functioning of sea corridors in the Black Sea.

It is particularly cynical that these are vessels whose purpose is to save people, not to take part in combat. Russia has once again shown: for it there is no difference between a military target, a civilian vessel, rescuers or a humanitarian mission.

Previously we reported:

• Friendship “the Russian way”: a Russian drone struck a vessel with Chinese citizens aboard
• Ukrainian Navy drones struck the sanctioned tanker Marquise 210 km from Tuapse
• Cigarettes with a “surprise”: in Odesa Russian special services prepared a drone terror attack
• Mykolaiv region was attacked by Shaheds, FPV and Molniya: 7 strikes hit the Ochakiv community and critical infrastructure
• Kakhovka HPP: the day Russia caused one of the largest environmental disasters of the war