Romanian President Nicusor Dan has accused Russia of escalating attacks around NATO’s eastern flank after a drone strike sank a cargo ship off Romania’s Black Sea coast, killing one sailor and leaving three others missing.
The Comoros flagged cargo vessel, Khoryv, issued a distress signal about 13 nautical miles from the Romanian port of Constanta, just beyond Romania’s territorial waters, according to the country’s naval authority.
The ship was carrying a crew of 13 Ukrainian and Azerbaijani sailors. Nine crew members were rescued from the water, while one body was recovered and three remained missing as emergency teams continued searching in difficult weather conditions.
Video released by Romanian authorities showed only a small section of the overturned vessel remaining above the waves as rescue crews searched the surrounding waters amid strong winds and rough seas.
President Dan said the incident was part of what he described as Russia’s wider escalation of its war against Ukraine. He later said the vessel had been struck by a drone.
The incident comes after a sharp increase in attacks involving commercial shipping near NATO members Romania and Bulgaria. At least seven cargo vessels have reportedly been hit over the past two weeks, with around 30 sailors reported dead or missing.
The attacks have raised concerns about the safety of commercial shipping along an increasingly important route connecting Ukraine to international markets.
Many of the vessels targeted recently were either anchored near or travelling towards the Sulina Canal, a major waterway connecting the Danube River with the Black Sea. The route has become particularly important for Ukraine, which uses Danube ports and nearby Romanian waters to export grain, food products and other goods after repeated Russian attacks on its Black Sea infrastructure.
NATO announced earlier this week that it would increase its surveillance presence in the Black Sea by deploying additional maritime patrol aircraft, radar systems and drones. The alliance has not yet provided details of the exact capabilities involved.
Romania has also stepped up its own air defence activity. On Saturday, Romanian F 16 fighter jets shot down two Russian drones over Romanian territorial waters, according to Romanian authorities.
Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria have urged NATO to strengthen protection for commercial shipping in the Black Sea as the number of incidents continues to rise.
The latest sinking adds to growing concerns that the conflict in Ukraine is increasingly affecting maritime security beyond the immediate battlefield and creating new risks for international trade routes.
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