Romanian President Nicusor Dan has accused Russia of escalating attacks on NATO’s eastern flank after a reported drone strike sank the Comoros-flagged cargo vessel Khoryv in the Black Sea near Romania’s territorial waters.
Romania’s naval authority said the vessel issued a distress signal approximately 13 nautical miles off the port of Constanta, outside Romanian territorial waters. The Khoryv had a crew of 13 Ukrainian and Azeri seafarers.
Context: Black Sea
Nine crew members were rescued from the water, while one body was recovered and three sailors remained missing. Romanian emergency vessels continued search-and-rescue operations in difficult weather conditions, with choppy seas and high winds reported in the area.
Operational context
Video released by Romanian authorities showed only a small section of the capsized vessel’s hull remaining above the water as it sank.
Dan said the ship had been struck by a drone and described the incident as part of an escalation in Russia’s war against Ukraine. Russia was blamed by Romanian authorities for the attack.
The sinking comes amid a recent increase in attacks against commercial shipping in the Black Sea near the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria. According to the report, at least seven cargo vessels have been hit during the previous two weeks, with around 30 seafarers reported dead or missing.
The ships targeted in recent incidents were either anchored near, or sailing towards, the Sulina Canal. The waterway connects the Danube River with the Black Sea and has become a key route for Ukrainian exports, including grain and food oils. Ukraine has relied increasingly on Danube ports and Romanian territorial waters as Russia has attacked Ukraine’s own Black Sea port infrastructure.
Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria have called for stronger NATO action to protect merchant shipping in the region. NATO said it would deploy additional maritime patrol aircraft, radar systems and drones to the Black Sea, although it has not detailed the specific assets involved.
Romania has also reported recent drone activity in its territorial waters. Romanian fighter jets shot down two Russian drones over Romanian territorial waters, according to the source report.
The incident involving the Khoryv highlights the rising operational and security risks for commercial vessels using Black Sea approaches connected to the Danube export corridor.