On October 23, 2026, a commercial ship flying the flag of the Comoros sank in the Black Sea, approximately 13 nautical miles from the Romanian port of Constanta. Preliminary reports indicate that the vessel was attacked by a drone, resulting in the death of one crew member, while three others are considered missing.
Incident Details
The ship, named Khoryv, had 13 people on board: 10 citizens of Ukraine and 3 citizens of Azerbaijan. According to reports, nine sailors were rescued, but the fate of three individuals remains unknown.
Government Response
The Romanian Maritime Administration confirmed the incident and stated that rescue operations are ongoing. Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that the ship was hit while allegedly transporting supplies for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. However, these claims have not been verified by independent sources.
Attacks on Ships in the Black Sea
This incident is not isolated. According to Romanian and Bulgarian media, drones have already struck 11 vessels in the Black Sea, seven of which were near Romania. Bulgarian authorities have expressed suspicions regarding Russia's involvement in these attacks, but currently lack sufficient evidence.