Civilian cargo ship sinks off coast of Romania after Russian drone strike, authorities say

Editor's note: An earlier version of this article said the ship was sailing under the flag of the Cayman Islands. This information has since been corrected

A civilian cargo ship sank after being struck by a Russian drone near Romania's Black Sea coast on Oct. 23, Romanian authorities reported.

The attack is the latest in a series of brazen Russian strikes on civilian shipping in the Black Sea, part of a broader escalation in Russia's economic warfare against Ukraine this year.

The ship, Khoryv, was sailing from Turkey under the flag of the Comoros and was crewed by Ukrainian and Azerbaijani nationals.

According to Romanian President Nicusor Dan, one person was confirmed dead and three others were missing from the 14-member crew.

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry later confirmed that a Ukrainian crew member on board the Khoryv was killed. Four other Ukrainian nationals, including the ship's captain, were hospitalized, while two Ukrainian crew members did not require medical assistance.

The ministry said the vessel had sunk near the Romanian city of Constanta with 14 crew members on board. According to preliminary information, a drone strike may have caused the sinking.

Ukraine's Embassy in Romania is working to establish the circumstances of the incident, as well as the whereabouts and condition of the rescued Ukrainian nationals, while remaining in contact with Romanian authorities, the ministry said.

"This attack is a new example of the tragic consequences of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine," Dan wrote on social media.

"It is time for Russia to take the peace initiatives proposed by the United States and Europe seriously, accept the ceasefire proposals and end the war."

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the attack, describing it as another Russian escalation in the Black Sea.

"These reckless attacks target innocent lives and openly defy international law," von der Leyen wrote on X.

Romania's Interior Ministry later confirmed that nine crew members had been rescued, publishing a video showing the keel of the overturned ship barely protruding above the water's surface.

In response to a series of attacks on civilian shipping, NATO plans to increase its military presence in the Black Sea by deploying additional maritime patrol aircraft, radar systems, and drones.

The announcement came after NATO's main decision-making body, the North Atlantic Council, met at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels on Oct. 20 to discuss security in the Black Sea.