Drone strike sinks merchant ship near Romanian waters, killing one; Romania blames Russia

A drone strike sank the merchant vessel Khoryv in the Black Sea on Friday. The ship was hit near Romanian territorial waters. It had 13 Ukrainian and Azeri crew members on board. One crew member was killed, three were missing and nine were rescued. Both DW and Al Jazeera base these casualty figures on Romanian official accounts.

Romanian President Nicusor Dan blamed Russia for the attack. Romania and Bulgaria have called on NATO to do more to protect commercial shipping in the Black Sea. NATO said earlier this week that it would send more maritime patrol aircraft and radar systems to the region. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has condemned the attacks on vessels in the Black Sea. The Khoryv is one of several merchant vessels attacked in the western Black Sea in recent weeks.

According to Al Jazeera, the Khoryv was Comoros-flagged. It was hit 13 nautical miles (24km) off Romania's port of Constanta, just outside Romanian territorial waters. Al Jazeera, citing the shipping data website MarineTraffic, reported that the ship left Turkiye on Wednesday and was headed for Romania's Sulina port. The vessel sent a distress signal at about 10:00 local time (07:00 GMT), and Romania then launched a rescue operation, according to Al Jazeera. Romania's naval authority said one body was recovered in a search hampered by poor weather and low visibility. Romanian authorities released video showing the capsized vessel sinking.

Al Jazeera also reported that Romanian warplanes shot down two Russian drones over Romanian territorial waters on Saturday. It noted that the Sulina canal has become the main route for Ukrainian exporters. According to DW, NATO did not blame any country when announcing its deployment.

The reports do not describe the evidence behind Romania's attribution of the strike to Russia. They do not include any independent investigation. The vessel type is also unclear: Al Jazeera describes it as a cargo ship in one passage and a tanker in another.

What is disputed

The scale of recent attacks differs by outlet. DW reports that the Khoryv is believed to be the fourth merchant vessel attacked off Romania this month. It cites Reuters as reporting about 23 sailors dead or missing in the 10 days to 15 October. Al Jazeera reports at least seven cargo ships hit, and 30 sailors killed or missing, off Romania and Bulgaria in the past two weeks. The figures cover different areas and time frames.

What each side says

President Dan called the sinking "a new example of the tragic consequences of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine", Al Jazeera reported. He added: "It is time for Russia to take peace initiatives of the United States and Europe seriously, accept the ceasefire proposals and end the war". Prime Minister Luca Niculescu wrote on Facebook that the attack was "unacceptable and constitutes a flagrant violation of international law", according to Al Jazeera. Moldova's Foreign Ministry said on X that "Russia’s continued escalation in the Black Sea endangers civilian lives, threatens freedom of navigation and undermines regional security". Von der Leyen called the attacks "reckless", Al Jazeera reported. Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria urged NATO to "fast-track the additional surveillance capabilities". According to Al Jazeera, Russian officials did not immediately comment publicly on the sinking. Russia has previously denied responsibility for deadly drone attacks in the region.

Analysis

The sinking adds to pressure on NATO members bordering the Black Sea, where commercial routes such as the Sulina canal carry Ukrainian exports. Several paths remain open. NATO's added surveillance could clarify who is behind the strikes and possibly deter further attacks. Alternatively, attacks could continue, raising risks and costs for shipping. Much depends on evidence: the reports do not describe how Romania attributed the strike to Russia, and they include no independent investigation. A verified account of the drone's origin would shape both diplomatic responses and any wider security measures. Russia's position on this specific incident is not included in the reports.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.