Russian drones set two tankers ablaze in Romanian waters, leaving seven missing

A Turkish-owned cargo ship carrying corn caught fire after a drone attack on October 5 and later sank in the Black Sea off Romania’s coast. Two people died and 11 crew members were rescued.

Drone incursions then continued through October in the exclusive economic zones of Romania and Bulgaria, both NATO and European Union members. At least seven cargo vessels have been struck in the Black Sea off the two countries’ coasts this month, leaving two people dead and at least 25 missing.

At 20:04 on October 14, two drones entered Romanian airspace. Radar contact with one was lost, while the other travelled towards Ukrainian airspace, where it was shot down.

On Wednesday evening, the Comoros-flagged chemical and oil tanker Yara J caught fire after a drone strike 8-10 miles southeast of Sulina, inside Romanian territorial waters. The vessel was travelling from Turkey to Sulina with 17 crew members, all of whom were safe.

A drone was then detected at 1:34 a.m. on October 15 southeast of Sulina. Romania’s Ministry of National Defense said it remained in national airspace for one minute before disappearing from radar.

Hours later, the San Marino-flagged chemical tanker Wine Trader, travelling from Tunisia to Romania with 12 crew members aboard, was struck by a drone and caught fire 13 nautical miles southeast of Sulina. Five crew members were rescued and seven remained missing.

One survivor had scalp burns and another suffered mild smoke inhalation. Three others appeared unharmed. Romanian rescuers sent two Black Hawk helicopters and two ships carrying medical staff to search for the missing crew, though the interior ministry said: “At the moment, the rescue cannot be done safely because of very big waves.”

A NATO military source said the drones that caused the fires on both tankers in Romanian territorial waters were of Russian origin. The strikes were the first drone attacks on ships inside Romanian territorial waters since the start of the war in Ukraine.

Romanian President Nicusor Dan confirmed that drones had struck the two cargo vessels, while declining to say publicly whether Russia was responsible. He said: “Commercial ships are being attacked and sunk. Seafarers killed, injured, and missing, very close to the shores of Romania and Bulgaria. Lives, global trade, and critical infrastructure are at stake.”

Romania shares a 614-km (381-mile) border with Ukraine, much of it along the Danube. Russian drones have repeatedly violated Romanian airspace near some of Ukraine’s Danube ports.

The latest incidents also sharpen a question over NATO’s obligations beyond the territorial waters where the two tankers were struck. Romanian defence analyst Radu Tudor said it was uncertain whether Article 5 of the NATO charter covered many Black Sea drone strikes because they had occurred in alliance members’ exclusive economic zones.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte met President Dan and Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev, and said the alliance would strengthen its posture and adjust deterrence in the Black Sea as needed. “NATO has strengthened our posture along the eastern flank including with increasing counter-drone capabilities,” Rutte said. He added: “NATO will continue to work closely with our Allies in the Black Sea, adjusting our deterrence and defence posture as needed.”