Drone strikes sink two Black Sea cargo ships and damage another
Drones have sunk two cargo ships and damaged a third in the exclusive economic zones of NATO member countries in the Black Sea, marking the first such attacks in NATO waters. The strikes killed at least two sailors, with others missing or rescued from the water. Bulgaria and Romania's territories were targeted on 5-6 October, prompting the European Union to condemn the attacks as "unacceptable" violations of international law, whilst Ukrainian President Zelenskyy attributed them to Russia and its combined sea and aerial drones.
The attacks involved multiple drones striking three vessels: the Togo-flagged Alfa Watan and Palau-flagged Able, attacked approximately 80 miles off Bulgaria's coast, and the Turkish-owned Royad Mammadov within Romania's exclusive economic zone. The Alfa Watan sank with the fate of its crew initially unknown; the Able caught fire with 18 crew members evacuated and two severely injured; the Royad Mammadov sank with 11 crew rescued and one missing. The three ships were carrying civilian cargo including wheat and corn from Ukraine, with the attacks representing a significant escalation in Black Sea hostilities since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
- Drones sank two ships, damaged one in NATO nations' Black Sea exclusive economic zones.
- Two sailors killed, one missing, others rescued during 5-6 October attacks.
- Attacks on civilian cargo vessels escalate Russian-Ukrainian conflict into NATO waters.
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Russia's invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022 and has increasingly affected shipping and security across the Black Sea. The sea is a crucial route for exporting Ukrainian grain to global markets, and this trade has become a frequent target of military action. NATO members Bulgaria and Romania border the Black Sea's western coast, and areas of sea adjacent to their coastlines are designated as their exclusive economic zones, where they have special rights and protections under international law.
Drone attacks this week hit three civilian cargo ships carrying Ukrainian grain in the exclusive economic zones of Bulgaria and Romania, sinking two vessels and damaging the third, with at least two crew members killed. This represents a significant escalation, as this is the first time military strikes have directly targeted vessels in NATO member waters since Russia's invasion began.
The incident has prompted strong international response, with the European Union calling the attacks violations of international law. The strikes underscore the ongoing risks to maritime commerce in the region and highlight how the conflict's effects continue to spread beyond Ukraine itself. Global food security is affected because Ukraine supplies grain to many countries, and disruption to shipping routes threatens this vital trade.
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Originally published by Ars Technica as “Drones sink ships near NATO countries in “unacceptable” attacks, EU says”.