Drone sinks cargo ship near Romanian waters; Romania blames Russia
One Turn followed this story across 7 editions, from Black Sea, off Varna, Bulgaria on October 6, 2026. Newest first.
Romania and Bulgaria are NATO members bordering the Black Sea. Shipping there has been targeted repeatedly since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The Comoros-flagged ship Khoryv sank after being hit by a drone near Romanian waters in the Black Sea, killing one sailor and leaving three missing, while nine crew were rescued. Romania blamed Russia for the attack. It is the latest of several strikes on civilian shipping off Romania and Bulgaria.
Why it matters: Attacks near NATO and EU waters raise risks for Black Sea shipping and grain trade routes.
NATO is sending additional military assets to the Black Sea after a series of Russian attacks on merchant shipping, with five more vessels attacked on Tuesday. Russia's military said it struck three cargo vessels in Ukraine's Danube port of Reni, among others. The attacks have targeted ships carrying agricultural cargo near NATO's borders.
Why it matters: Attacks on grain shipping in the Black Sea affect global food supply routes and bring the war closer to NATO members Romania and Bulgaria.
Two merchant ships were hit by unidentified drones off Bulgaria's Black Sea coast, and one sank; 20 crew were rescued and 11 remain missing. Prime Minister Rumen Radev blamed Russia and summoned its ambassador, calling it the second such attack in six days.
Why it matters: Attacks on shipping off a NATO and EU member's coast raise security concerns for Black Sea trade.
Unidentified drones struck two merchant ships off Bulgaria's Black Sea coast, and one sank. Eleven crew members are missing and 20 have been rescued. Prime Minister Rumen Radev blamed Russia and summoned its ambassador, after a similar attack six days earlier.
Why it matters: Attacks on shipping in the waters of an EU and NATO member raise the risk for Black Sea trade and for European security.
Bulgaria called off the search for 12 missing Syrian crew members after a merchant ship sank in its waters following a drone strike. Who carried out the attack remains unknown.
Why it matters: A deadly drone strike in an EU and NATO member's waters raises concerns about Black Sea shipping security.
Two merchant ships were struck by drones of unknown origin in Bulgaria's Black Sea zone, and one sank. Bulgaria has halted the search for 12 missing Syrian sailors, and the attackers remain unidentified.
Why it matters: An unattributed drone attack in an EU and NATO member's waters raises alarm over Black Sea shipping security.