Mystery over the fate of the Albanian engineer after the Ukrainian attack on the Turkish ship: It is not known whether he survived, his brother asks for help

Erkan Nika, the second engineer on board the Turkish ship Aroyat, which is said to have been attacked in the Black Sea, has disappeared.

Nika, of Albanian origin, was not among the rescued crew and is being sought by his family, which is appealing for help.

The Turkish ship “Aroyat”, part of the fleet of Istanbul-based “Aroyat Management” and operated by “Kiva Marine”, had a crew of 16 people: 7 Egyptians, 6 Syrians and 3 Turks (the Albanian Erkan Nika is included here).

It is said to have been attacked by a drone near the Russian port of Novorossiysk, in the Black Sea, on 27 September 2026. The attack caused considerable damage and a fire broke out at the rear of the ship, while claims that it was carried out by Ukrainian forces have not been officially confirmed.

After the incident, evacuation and first-response efforts began. However, the name of Second Engineer Erkan Nika was not among the rescued crew members, and his brother, Erizon Nika, has appealed for help on social media.

Erizon Nika writes that the family is also considering the possibility that his brother may be in a hospital in Russia or somewhere else on the continent, continuing as follows:

“My brother was not among the rescued crew. At the moment we have no information about his whereabouts or his health. In the chaos of the attack, he could be in a hospital in Russia or somewhere on the ground. We urgently ask for help from anyone who saw him, heard anything or contacted the authorities.”

The ship “Aroyat”, severely damaged during the attack, is being towed towards Turkey by tugboats. While a full search of the ship is planned, the family has specifically requested a detailed inspection of the engine room, the living areas and the enclosed parts:

“Our greatest expectation and request is that my brother be searched for first; that the ship’s engine room, living areas and all enclosed parts be checked carefully. We hope to find my brother alive until the very last moment.”

While some publications suggest there were casualties among the crew, other reports indicate there were no casualties. However, Erkan Nika’s family reports that the sailor is missing. Since there has been no official statement, claims about casualties have not been confirmed.

The ship Aroyat, which is reported to be operated by Istanbul-based Kiva Marine, was among the first commercial ships to use Ukraine’s temporary maritime corridor in 2023. It took part in the resumption of grain exports from the Port of Chornomorsk after the end of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.