Drone hits another ship in Black Sea near Romania, killing at least 1 sailor

A drone has hit a commercial ship off the coast of Romania, killing at least one crew member with three more still missing, Romanian President Nicușor Dan said Friday. “This morning we experienced a security incident: A vessel was struck by a drone approximately 13 nautical miles from the coast, just beyond Romania’s territorial waters,” Dan said, praising the coast guard for saving nine sailors as part of the rescue operation. “Unfortunately, one sailor has died and three others are still being searched for,” he added. The Khoryv ship, flying under the flag of Comoros, suffered significant damage, capsized and partially sank, according to Romania’s Interior Ministry. The incident is the latest in a string of drone attacks on commercial shipping in the Black Sea. Dan told POLITICO last week that Russia’s intention was clearly to weaken Romania’s support for Ukraine in the war but vowed not to back down. NATO allies met Tuesday to discuss the threat to Black Sea shipping and Dan said Romania would receive “additional capabilities” to help defend the area. “Evidently, this is an incident within the broader process of escalation that Russia is pursuing in the context of its war in Ukraine,” the Romanian president said. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she was “deeply alarmed” by “yet another Russian escalation in the Black Sea.” The ship was carrying Ukrainian and Azerbaijani crew, she said. “These reckless attacks target innocent lives and openly defy international law. My thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the sailor that was killed. And with the families of the three crew members still missing.” Over the last month, drones have hit several cargo ships and chemical tankers close to Romania and Bulgaria — both NATO members — killing more than 20 people in total. Reuters reported that the ships hit by drones in recent weeks had been near or heading towards the Sulina Canal, linking the Danube River and the Black Sea. This has become a key export route for Ukrainian grain and food oil after Russia attacked Ukraine’s own Black Sea ports. This article was updated.