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Ukraine Blames Russian Drones for Ship Attack, Romania Reports Two Dead
Confirmed
In Short: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky blamed Russian drones for a deadly attack on a grain ship in the Black Sea, where two crew members died and 11 were rescued.
Romanian authorities reported that the 139-meter-long ship, named Royad Mammadov, caught fire within Romania's exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea.
Zelensky said the ship's captain was killed in the strike, and the vessel was carrying corn. The ship was Turkish-owned and had Azerbaijani and Indian nationals on board.
Romanian officials confirmed that the drone was Russian, but Moscow denied involvement, calling the accusations 'unsubstantiated.'
Turkey expressed frustration over the attacks, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan telling the UN General Assembly that such incidents were 'unacceptable.'
Ukraine's drone forces commander, Robert Brovdi, said the ship was involved in 'stealing' Ukrainian grain and transferring military cargo and fuel.
Romanian President Nicusor Dan noted that this was the second significant security incident in the week, following the discovery of a stray mine on a beach near Vama Veche.
Zelensky urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to engage directly for peace, warning that waiting for the US to focus on Europe again would be 'wrong.'
Romanian officials said three of the crew members were injured, with eight in good condition.
The incident highlights the increasing frequency of drone activity in eastern Europe as Ukraine continues to fight off a Russian invasion launched in 2022.
What this adds
The BBC reported that Ukraine had confirmed one of its naval drones exploded off Romania's coast on Friday.
Ukraine's defense ministry noted that the drone had self-detonated near an oil terminal without causing casualties, but it caused considerable damage to a ship and warehouses.
Background
Kyiv's offensive on Russian oil facilities, especially refineries, is a direct response to Moscow's persistent attacks on Ukraine's infrastructure, including Black Sea ports, ships, and civilian targets.
Russian drones struck Kyiv's Southern Bridge, causing traffic disruptions and suspending metro services.
What's confirmed
- Romanian authorities reported that the 139-meter-long ship, named Royad Mammadov, caught fire within Romania's exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea.
- Zelensky said the ship's captain was killed in the strike, and the vessel was carrying corn. The ship was Turkish-owned and had Azerbaijani and Indian nationals on board.
- Ukraine's drone forces commander, Robert Brovdi, said the ship was involved in 'stealing' Ukrainian grain and transferring military cargo and fuel.
- Romanian President Nicusor Dan noted that this was the second significant security incident in the week, following the discovery of a stray mine on a beach near Vama Veche.
- Romanian officials said three of the crew members were injured, with eight in good condition.
- The incident highlights the increasing frequency of drone activity in eastern Europe as Ukraine continues to fight off a Russian invasion launched in 2022.
What's still developing
- "Eleven crew members have been rescued. Two deceased persons have also been identified," it added.
- Drone activity has become increasingly frequent across eastern Europe as Ukraine, which borders NATO member Romania, fights off a Russian invasion launched in 2022.
- "Ukraine has repeatedly proposed concrete steps to de-escalate the situation and ensure security in the Black Sea," Zelensky said on Monday, adding that "pressure is needed to restore global food security".
- It did not specify who had been behind the attacks and noted that the ships did not belong to Azerbaijan.
- Earlier, Robert Brovdi, Ukraine's drone commander, announced that five "illegally loitering vessels" had been struck overnight in the ports of Mariupol, Berdyansk and in the coastal waters of what Ukraine calls the "temporarily occupied territories" - parts of the country that Russia currently controls.
- The country's defence ministry said the drone had self-detonated near an oil terminal without causing any casualties, although authorities have said it caused considerable damage to a ship and warehouses.
- Adrian Teodor Picoiu, Constanta's top official, told G4Media that "information from the Ukrainian side" was that the drone was part of a group of five, with a second one exploding in Ukraine.
- Zelensky told Putin in an open letter that it would be "wrong to simply wait" until the war in Europe became the focus of US attention once more, adding peace could only come "through direct engagement".
- Ukraine says it has struck five ships carrying illegal cargo in the Sea of Azov and in coastal waters of Russian-occupied territories.
- Meanwhile, Ukraine has confirmed one of its naval drones exploded off Romania's coast on Friday.