The key facts

  • The vessel Khoryv issued a distress signal 13 miles off Constanta after, according to reports, being hit by drones
  • Nine sailors from Ukraine and Azerbaijan were rescued, one body was found, three are missing
  • According to reports, the vessel sank; a helicopter operation was thwarted by bad weather

Distress signal off the Romanian coast

On Friday, Romania launched a rescue operation in the Black Sea. The vessel Khoryv issued a distress signal 13 miles off Constanta after, according to reports, being struck by drones. There were 13 sailors on board — citizens of Ukraine and Azerbaijan.

Outcome of the operation

According to the Romanian Naval Authority, rescue vessels managed to pull nine people alive from the water, along with one body. The fate of the three other crew members remains unknown — they are listed as missing. The vessel, according to reports, sank. The helicopter rescue operation did not take place due to adverse weather conditions and limited visibility.

Series of incidents in the region

This is the latest in a series of recent incidents in the Black Sea: over the past weeks, vessels off the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria are believed to have been attacked by Russian drones.