Ukrainian drones attacked a ferry at a port in southern Russia, just across the Moscow-annexed Crimean peninsula, killing at least one and injuring five, local authorities said Tuesday.

The port is in the Kerch Strait, 12 kilometres (seven miles) from the Kerch bridge, which connects Russia to Crimea. Moscow annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.

“Drones attacked a ferry vessel in the port of Kavkaz,” Krasnador governor Veniamin Kondratyev said in a post on Telegram.

“Unfortunately there are injured and dead among the crew and port staff,” he added.

The state-run TASS news agency said one person died and five were injured, citing local authorities.

Kyiv has targeted the area since Moscow launched its military offensive in Ukraine in February 2022.

Ukraine has destroyed and damaged several Russian military ships in the Black Sea, but successful attacks as far east as Kerch, which is heavily protected by Russian defences, are rarer.

The peninsula is a key military hub and supply route for the Russian army.