Merchant ship sinks off Romania after drone attack; crew member killed and three missing
The merchant vessel Khoryv sank in the Black Sea off Romania on Friday after being hit by a drone, according to the crew's distress call. Romanian rescuers recovered nine sailors and one body, but three crew members remain missing. The ship's thirteen-person crew included Ukrainian and Azerbaijani nationals.
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A merchant ship named the Khoryv sent a distress call on Friday after being struck by a drone while sailing 13 nautical miles off Constanta, a major port on Romania's Black Sea coast. The vessel, which was flying the Comoros flag, reported a fire on board and subsequently sank. The Romanian Naval Authority's Maritime Coordination Center received the alert around 10 a.m. local time.
Rescue teams from the Romanian Agency for Fisheries Monitoring and the Interior Ministry were deployed immediately. Despite challenging conditions, they recovered nine crew members alive and one body from the water. However, three sailors remain missing. The ship's crew of 13 consisted of ten Ukrainian nationals and three Azerbaijani nationals.
Severe weather significantly hampered the rescue operation. Torrential rain and poor visibility prevented a Black Hawk helicopter from reaching the site to assist. The origin of the drones used in the attack has not been determined.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of drone and missile strikes targeting commercial shipping in the Black Sea since the start of the Russo-Ukrainian war. Romania, which is a NATO member bordering these contested waters, continues to experience spillover effects from the ongoing conflict.
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