NATO will discuss the recent surge in drone attacks on ships in the Black Sea at a meeting next week. The decision comes after two new attacks and the disappearance of seven people off the coast of Romania.
What happened
Two drone attacks on ships in the Black Sea were reported by Romania on Thursday, resulting in seven people missing. The attacks are the latest in a series off the coast of Romania and neighboring Bulgaria in recent weeks. The Romanian Naval Authority reported that a fire broke out on the Wine Trader, a chemical tanker, approximately 13 nautical miles southeast of the Romanian city of Sulina. Five of the sailors were rescued, while a further seven people are still missing.
The incidents involving civilian vessels in the Black Sea have been on the rise, with suspected spillover from Russia’s war in Ukraine. Romanian President Nicosur Dan described the trend as “unacceptable” and “has to stop”. He emphasized that lives, global trade, and critical infrastructure are at stake.
Earlier, a Ukrainian-owned cargo ship, the Chelsea 3, was hit by three drones, and a Guinea-Bissau-flagged cargo vessel, the HS Dignity, sank off Bulgaria, resulting in 11 crew members missing. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev stated that while the results of the attack favor Russia, there is no solid evidence that the drones are Russian.
