Ukraine War Turns Black Sea Into World’s Deadliest Shipping Lane – WSJ

More than 30 seafarers have been killed in Black Sea attacks this year, making the route the world’s deadliest shipping lane, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The strikes by Russia and Ukraine on ships and ports have also raised concern about the conflict spreading into waters near NATO members Romania and Bulgaria.

Maritime security firm Ambrey recorded more than 300 attacks, and more than 20 seafarers are still missing. In October, drones struck eight merchant ships in or near Romanian and Bulgarian waters, two more in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone and another at Ukraine’s port of Izmail; nearly half of these attacks left crew dead, injured or missing. Black Sea traffic fell sharply: ships entering through the Bosphorus were down 41% from October 2025, while transits in both directions fell 38%.