Romanian authorities reported seven people missing following two separate drone attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea, amid a series of recent incidents affecting maritime traffic near Romania and Bulgaria. The attacks occurred on Wednesday evening and early Thursday morning, intensifying concerns over security in the strategically important waterway amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The first attack targeted the Comoros-flagged tanker Yara 1, where a fire broke out on board on Wednesday evening. Romanian officials said the ship’s crew successfully extinguished the flames without external assistance. Less than twelve hours later, another vessel, the Wine Trader, a San Marino-flagged chemical tanker, caught fire around 7 a.m. local time approximately 13 nautical miles southeast of the Romanian city of Sulina. Romanian authorities indicated that 12 crew members were on board the Wine Trader at the time.
Romanian President Nicusor Dan, speaking at a European Union summit in Brussels following a meeting with the Bulgarian prime minister and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, condemned the attacks as "unacceptable," emphasizing the urgent need to halt the deteriorating security situation in the Black Sea. He described the situation as "serious," noting that commercial ships are being attacked and sunk, with crew members killed, injured or missing close to the shores of Romania and Bulgaria. Dan also highlighted the broader implications, warning that these incidents threaten lives, global trade, and critical infrastructure.
Romanian naval authorities confirmed that both ships had been hit by air-launched drones, marking a continuation of a growing pattern of maritime attacks in the region that experts suggest may be linked to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. While the exact perpetrators have not been officially identified, the attacks are widely seen as part of the broader hostilities affecting the Black Sea maritime domain.
The incidents have raised alarms among NATO member states and neighboring countries, which rely heavily on Black Sea shipping lanes for trade and energy supplies. Efforts are underway at the EU and NATO levels to coordinate a response to safeguard these vital routes and prevent further escalation.
Romanian officials have launched investigations into both attacks and continue search and rescue operations for the missing crew members. The situation remains fluid as authorities assess the damage and work to enhance maritime security in the region.