Wave of drone attacks sinks ships and kills crew in the Black Sea
In the past three months, at least ten commercial vessels have been hit by drones in the Black Sea, resulting in three sinkings, 13 deaths and 19 crew members still missing.
Over the last ninety days the Black Sea has become a hotspot for maritime drone attacks, with ten vessels struck and three sinking completely. The attacks, which Ukrainian authorities and regional experts link to Russian drone activity, have targeted a mix of cargo, oil-product carriers and grain ships operating near the EEZs of Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine and Turkey. Fatalities total 13, while 19 crew members are still listed as missing, including the entire ten-person crew of the ALFA WATAN.
Romanian Army chief Gheorghiță Vlad had earlier warned that the sea, a major grain export route, would face rising risks as traffic increases. Rescue teams from Romania and Bulgaria have rescued many sailors, but incidents such as the fire on ROYAD MAMMADOV and the sinking of PROGRESS IV underscore the growing danger to commercial shipping in the region.
Why it matters
The attacks threaten vital grain exports and maritime safety in a key Black Sea trade corridor.
How this story developed
- Oct 12 Drone strikes sink vessel and damage another ship in the Black Sea
- Oct 13 Prime Minister Radev summoned the Russian ambassador to Sofia.
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