Ukraine Accuses Russia of Drone Attack That Sank Ship in Romanian Waters

Ukraine has accused Russia of carrying out a drone attack that caused a civilian cargo ship to sink in Romania’s section of the Black Sea, raising fresh concerns that the war could spill over into NATO territory.

Romanian authorities said two people were killed and 11 others rescued after the grain ship caught fire and sank on Monday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the vessel, which was carrying corn and owned by a Turkish company, was struck by two Russian drones while sailing in neutral waters.

“A horrific strike by two Russian drones on a civilian vessel in neutral waters carrying corn and owned by Turkiye,” Zelenskyy said in a social media post.

Romania’s Ministry of Internal Affairs said its coastguard received an alert at about 11am local time that a fire had broken out aboard the vessel, which was located within Romania’s exclusive economic zone.

The ministry did not immediately establish the cause of the fire.

The ship, identified as Royad Mammadov, had Azerbaijani and Indian nationals among its crew, according to reports. Romanian authorities launched a rescue operation after the vessel caught fire.

The incident is the latest in a series of suspected Russian and Ukrainian drone incursions involving Romania and other NATO countries since the beginning of the war.

In May, a Russian drone reportedly struck an apartment building in Romania, while a Ukrainian maritime drone exploded at the Black Sea port of Constanta in June. In July, Romania summoned Russia’s ambassador after its air defences intercepted three drones within a week.

The repeated incidents have heightened concerns among NATO members that the conflict could increasingly spread beyond Ukraine’s borders.

Romanian authorities have also stepped up maritime security in the Black Sea. The country’s Ministry of National Defence said its naval forces had destroyed nine drifting sea mines in the area since the beginning of the war.

The latest incident is expected to further increase pressure on NATO to strengthen its defences along the alliance’s eastern flank.