On a Friday morning in late October, a drone struck and sank the merchant ship Khoryv in the Black Sea, close to Romanian waters, taking with it a crew of Ukrainians and Azerbaijanis whose lives now hang in the balance. Romania's president has named Russia as the source of the blow, placing it within a month of mounting danger on a sea that Ukraine depends on for its exports. It is a reminder that the quiet waters of commerce can become a front in a larger war, and that the neighbors who stand at its edge, Romania and Bulgaria among them, are now asking an alliance to shield the ships that car
Romania Blames Russia as Drone Strike Sinks Merchant Ship in Black Sea
At least one sailor was killed and three crew members remain missing after the drone strike on the merchant ship Khoryv; nine of 13 crew were rescued.
Nine of 13 crew were rescued; three are still missing
On a Friday morning in late October, a drone struck and sank the merchant ship Khoryv in the Black Sea, close to Romanian waters, taking with it a crew of Ukrainians and Azerbaijanis whose lives now hang in the balance. Romania's president has named Russia as the source of the blow, placing it within a month of mounting danger on a sea that Ukraine depends on for its exports. It is a reminder that the quiet waters of commerce can become a front in a larger war, and that the neighbors who stand at its edge, Romania and Bulgaria among them, are now asking an alliance to shield the ships that carry grain and hope alike.
On Friday morning, a drone struck the merchant ship Khoryv and sent it to the bottom of the Black Sea, close to Romanian territorial waters. Thirteen crew were aboard, Ukrainians and Azerbaijanis. Nine have been pulled from the water. At least one sailor is dead, and three remain missing, according to Romanian President Nicusor Dan, who has placed the blame squarely on Russia.
The sinking is part of a steep climb in attacks on shipping in the western Black Sea this month. It is the fourth merchant vessel believed struck off the Romanian coast in October. Earlier, two ships were set ablaze, one inside Romanian waters. Bulgaria has seen drones hit vessels near its shore as well, and Sofia has also pointed to Russia for pressing too close to its exclusive economic zone.
Both governments have asked NATO to do more. The alliance has responded with practical steps, sending extra maritime patrol aircraft and radar, but it has stopped short of naming anyone responsible. For Ukraine, which relies on this corridor to export grain, the stakes are plain. For the families waiting on the three missing sailors, the stakes are immediate. Whether NATO's new eyes in the sky change the pattern of strikes remains to be seen.
On Friday morning, a drone struck the merchant ship Khoryv in the Black Sea and sank it, close to Romanian territorial waters. Thirteen crew members were aboard, Ukrainians and Azerbaijanis. Nine have been rescued. At least one sailor is dead, and three others are still missing, according to Romanian President Nicusor Dan.
Dan placed the blame on Russia. His statement came as attacks on ships using the western Black Sea have climbed sharply this month. That stretch of water is a vital corridor for Ukraine, which relies on it to export grain and other cargo.
The Khoryv is believed to be the fourth merchant vessel attacked off the Romanian coast in October. Two weeks earlier, two merchant ships were set ablaze in the western Black Sea, and one of them was inside Romanian territorial waters. Romania responded by raising concerns about Russian provocation in waters that lie at the edge of, or under the control of, NATO members.
Bulgaria, which like Romania belongs to NATO, has voiced similar worries. Earlier this month, merchant ships were hit by drones near the Bulgarian coastline. Sofia blamed Russia for edging too close to Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea.
Both governments have asked NATO to do more to protect commercial shipping. The alliance's response so far has been practical rather than accusatory: earlier this week it said it was sending additional maritime patrol aircraft and radar systems to the Black Sea. It did not name any country as responsible for the attacks.
The human toll has been rising throughout the month. Reuters reported that about 23 sailors were dead or missing in Black Sea incidents during the ten days leading up to October 15. That tally is now higher, and the Khoryv adds to it.
The European Commission has also weighed in. Earlier this month, President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the escalating attacks on vessels, calling it unacceptable that the Black Sea has become another front of escalation in Russia's war in Ukraine.
What to watch now is whether NATO's added aircraft and radar change the pattern of strikes near Romanian and Bulgarian waters, and whether the alliance moves from surveillance to naming responsibility. The search for the three missing Khoryv crew members is the more immediate question.
Bemerkenswerte Zitate
Romania's president blamed Russia for the attack and said at least one sailor was killed and three are missing.— Nicusor Dan, Romanian President
It is unacceptable that the Black Sea has become another front of escalation of the Russian war in Ukraine.— Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission President
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