A deadly drone strike on a commercial cargo ship off the coast of Romania has sparked international condemnation, with Romanian officials directly blaming Russia for the incident. The Comoros-flagged vessel, identified as the Khoryv, was hit on Friday approximately 13 nautical miles (24km) from the port of Constanta, situated just outside Romania’s territorial waters. The attack resulted in the death of one sailor, while three others remain missing from the 13-member crew, which consisted of Ukrainian and Azeri nationals.
The vessel had departed from Turkey on Wednesday, intending to reach Romania’s Sulina port—a vital artery connecting the Danube River to the Black Sea. This route has become a critical corridor for Ukrainian exports as Russia continues to target Ukraine’s own port infrastructure. Footage provided by local maritime authorities showed the tanker capsized, with only a small portion of its hull remaining above the surface.
Rescue operations were launched shortly after the ship broadcast a distress signal around 10:00 am local time on Friday. Efforts to locate the missing crew were significantly hampered by poor weather and limited visibility, according to the Romanian naval authority, though nine sailors were successfully retrieved from the water. Romania launched a rescue operation after the Khoryv sent a distress signal about 10am local time (0700 GMT).
The sinking marks a severe escalation, as it is the seventh commercial vessel to be struck in the region over the past two weeks. Collectively, these attacks have left roughly 30 sailors dead or missing, deepening fears regarding the security of international shipping lanes. In response, Ukraine, Romania, and Bulgaria have formally urged NATO to “fast-track the additional surveillance capabilities” needed to secure maritime trade. NATO confirmed on Tuesday that it plans to bolster its presence by deploying further radar systems, drones, and maritime patrol aircraft. According to it’s the latest drone attack targeting commercial shipping off the coasts of NATO members Romania and Bulgaria, with at least seven cargo ships hit and 30 sailors, Killed or missing in the past two weeks, raising.
Romanian President Nicusor Dan denounced the event as “a new example of the tragic consequences of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine,” urging Moscow to accept ceasefire proposals and pursue peace. According to “It is time for Russia to take peace initiatives of the United, And Europe seriously, accept the ceasefire proposals and end the war,” he said.
Prime Minister Luca Niculescu labeled the strike “unacceptable” and a violation of international law.
Similar rebukes were issued by the Moldovan Foreign Ministry, which warned that the escalation threatens regional security and the freedom of navigation, while EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the aggression as “reckless” and a disregard for innocent lives.
Russian authorities have not issued an immediate public response to the sinking. The incident occurred just days after Romanian warplanes were forced to intercept and shoot down two advanced Russian drones that had entered Romanian territorial waters on Saturday. Despite mounting evidence and consistent blame from regional leaders, Moscow has historically denied responsibility for such drone-related incidents in the Black Sea.
