A Comoros‑flagged vessel named Khoryv was struck near Romanian waters in the Black Sea, killing one sailor and leaving three crew members missing, after Romanian authorities said a Russian drone was responsible for the attack.
The incident occurred close to Romania’s coastline, where the ship was reportedly hit by an unmanned aerial system. The impact caused the vessel to sink, prompting an emergency response that recovered the body of one seafarer while the whereabouts of the three missing crew remain unknown.
Romanian officials promptly blamed Russia for the drone strike, accusing Moscow of targeting civilian shipping in the contested Black Sea region. The government’s statement linked the attack to the broader pattern of Russian military activity that has escalated since the start of the conflict in Ukraine.
The Black Sea has become a focal point of heightened naval and aerial operations, with both Russian and Ukrainian forces deploying drones and missiles. Commercial vessels transiting the area have faced increasing risks, prompting calls for stronger protection of maritime traffic.
The sinking of the Khoryv adds to a series of recent incidents that have raised international concern over the safety of shipping lanes in the Black Sea, highlighting the ongoing impact of the regional conflict on civilian navigation.
<small>Source: Al Jazeera — read the original story there.</small>
