Seven sailors missing after drones strike tankers off Romania
Seven sailors are missing after drones struck two tankers in Romanian territorial waters, setting both vessels ablaze on a Black Sea route important to Ukrainian trade. The missing crew members were aboard the San Marino-flagged Wine Trader, which was travelling from Tunisia to Romania. Everyone on the Yara J, hit late on Wednesday, was reported safe. A NATO military source told Reuters that the drones were of Russian origin, although Romania’s president, Nicușor Dan, declined to assign responsibility publicly.
Dan called attacks on commercial shipping near Romania and Bulgaria unacceptable. After talks with Bulgaria’s prime minister, Rumen Radev, and NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte, he said the three had agreed to strengthen Black Sea defences. NATO will review the issue at a North Atlantic Council meeting next week.
The strikes follow attacks off Bulgaria on Tuesday that left 11 crew members from the HS Dignity missing. All 15 people aboard the Chelsea 3 were evacuated, with five treated for minor injuries. At least 23 sailors have been reported missing or killed in attacks near the Romanian and Bulgarian coasts over the past 10 days. The incidents are intensifying fears that commercial routes used to export Ukrainian grain, sunflower oil and other goods are becoming another front in Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Continue in the app — vote & join in ➔