The key facts

  • Three vessels — the tanker Evia Petrol V under the Greek flag, the bulk carrier Marsol, and the tanker Ali Najafov under the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis — were hit by drones near the Sulina Channel
  • There were no casualties, and the crews extinguished the fires on board themselves
  • The Romanian Air Force twice scrambled fighter jets to verify air targets in the area of the attack

Attack near the Sulina Channel

Three commercial vessels were struck by drones on Saturday evening off the Romanian coast of the Black Sea, near the Sulina Channel — a key route connecting the Danube with the sea and used by Ukraine for exporting goods. According to Romania's Defence Minister Stefan Radu Oprea, there were no casualties, and the crews themselves extinguished the fires that broke out on the vessels.

The authorities' response

Romania's Prime Minister Luca Niculescu called the drone attacks 'unacceptable' and said they violate international law. According to him, this reflects the deteriorating security situation caused by Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine; he pledged to take measures together with allies to strengthen security in the Black Sea. Niculescu also reported that the Defence Ministry's radars detected air targets in the area, and the Romanian Air Force twice scrambled fighter jets to verify them.

Damaged vessels and context

Among the struck vessels are the chemical tanker Evia Petrol V under the Greek flag, as well as the bulk carrier Marsol and the oil products tanker Ali Najafov under the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis. The day before, on Friday, Ukrainian media reported that another cargo vessel, Larissa 1 under the flag of Palau, was hit by a drone while, according to available information, heading towards Ukraine. Russia denies using drones against countries neighbouring Ukraine.

Next steps

Defence Minister Stefan Radu Oprea is due to meet with his counterparts in Brussels next week, where the security situation in the Black Sea is expected to be discussed. 'We need the solidarity of our allies, expressed in surveillance aircraft patrols and in equipment for countering drones,' he said.