Screengrab from X video A Russian cargo ship under U.S. and Ukrainian sanctions was attacked by drones near Crete in the Mediterranean Sea on September 6 while heading towards Syria. The ship, Lady Mariia, had left the Algerian port of Oran before the attack. It was earlier known as Stella-Maria. Footage shared by the NEVZOROV Telegram channel appeared to show drones hitting the ship and a fire breaking out on board. Russian opposition journalist Alexander Nevzorov, who shared the footage, said the ship was hit 12 times. He also said the drones came from Libya and claimed the ship was carrying Iranian weapons and armoured vehicles from Algeria to Russia. However, these claims have not been verified. Andriy Klymenko, head of the Institute for Black Sea Strategic Studies, also said that the ship was attacked by “unknown drones” near Crete while heading towards Syria. Ship Linked to Russian Military Transport Lady Mariia is a Russian-flagged ro/ro cargo vessel with a deadweight of about 7,180 tonnes. The ship is registered to the Russian company MG-Flot LLC, formerly known as TransMorFlot LLC. Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence has said that Lady Mariia has been used to transport military cargo and weapons for Russia. According to the agency, the vessel has operated between Novorossiysk and the Syrian port of Tartus. It has also been linked to the transportation of weapons from Syria to Russia. Ukraine imposed sanctions on Lady Mariia on May 23, 2026, for 10 years. The United States has also sanctioned the vessel under its former name, STELLA-MARIA. The ship has been linked to MG-Flot under the sanctions regime established by Executive Order 14024. Ukrainian special forces carried out another long-range maritime strike in the Mediterranean Sea, heavily damaging the Russian Ro-Ro cargo ship LADY MARIIA off the coast of Libya. The vessel was reportedly involved in the transport of sanctioned Iranian weapons to Russia. pic.twitter.com/hkOELaxgLl — OSINTtechn