Seven sailors are missing after drones struck two tankers near Romania’s Black Sea coast, setting them ablaze. The incidents have raised security concerns on a vital shipping route used by Ukraine.
A Nato military source told Reuters that the drones which caused fires on board the Wine Trader and the Yara J, inside Romanian territorial waters, were of Russian origin. All crew on the Yara J were reported safe, while the missing crew were from the Wine Trader, travelling from Tunisia to Romania.
Romania’s president, Nicușor Dan, described the situation in the Black Sea as serious, stating that attacks on commercial ships are unacceptable and must stop. His statement followed a meeting with Bulgaria’s prime minister, Rumen Radev, and Nato’s secretary-general, Mark Rutte, where they agreed to strengthen defences in the Black Sea.
A Nato official stated that the issue would be discussed at a meeting of the North Atlantic Council next week. Similar incidents in recent weeks have led to fears that the zone is becoming another front in Russia’s war on Ukraine.
At least 23 sailors have been reported missing or killed after attacks on commercial shipping near the coasts of Bulgaria and Romania in the past 10 days, according to Reuters. EU leaders are expected to declare that attacks against civilian shipping, including member state-flagged vessels, are unacceptable and violate international and maritime law.