A Comoros-flagged cargo vessel named the Khoryv was struck by a drone approximately 24 kilometers off Romania’s port of Constanta, resulting in the ship’s sinking. The vessel was carrying 13 crew members from Ukraine and Azerbaijan and was traveling from Turkey toward Romania’s Sulina port when the strike occurred. One sailor was killed, three went missing, and nine were rescued during a search and rescue operation conducted under difficult weather conditions.
Romanian authorities attributed the attack to Russia, with President Nicusor Dan characterizing it as reflective of Russia’s broader military actions against Ukraine. Prime Minister Luca Niculescu described the incident as a violation of international law. Similar statements came from other regional officials, including Moldova’s Foreign Ministry and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who condemned the attack as reckless and a threat to international maritime law.
The Khoryv incident represents part of an intensifying pattern of drone strikes targeting commercial shipping near NATO member states. According to available reports, at least seven cargo vessels have been hit and approximately 30 sailors have been killed or reported missing over the preceding two weeks in the Black Sea. The escalation reflects broader tensions tied to Russia’s ongoing military campaign in Ukraine, which has prompted Ukrainian exporters to rely increasingly on ports along the Danube River and in Romanian territorial waters following attacks on Ukraine’s own Black Sea port facilities.
In response to the surge in maritime attacks, Ukraine, Romania, and Bulgaria have appealed to NATO for enhanced surveillance systems to protect shipping operations. NATO announced it would deploy additional maritime patrol aircraft, radar equipment, and unmanned systems to the region. Russian officials had not issued public comments regarding the sinking as of the incident’s immediate aftermath, though Russia has previously denied responsibility for deadly drone operations in the area.
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