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Romania Blames Russia for Attacks on Merchant Ships in Black Sea
Confirmed
In Short: Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu said Russia is responsible for attacks on four merchant ships in the Black Sea, leaving eight people dead.
Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu said Thursday that Russia bears full responsibility for attacks on four merchant ships in the Black Sea, which left eight people dead over the last 24 hours. The attacks have raised concerns about maritime safety and the potential impact on global food supplies.
Țoiu accused Russia of turning the Black Sea into a danger zone for civilian ships as part of its war against Ukraine. She emphasized that these drone attacks are direct consequences of Russia's aggression and endanger not only shipping in the region but also vital agricultural supplies to other continents.
The latest attack struck a civilian ship in Romania's exclusive economic zone on Thursday morning. The minister said Romanian units from the Coast Guard and Department for Emergency Situations were actively involved in search-and-rescue operations to find missing crew members from a vessel attacked in Romanian waters.
According to Turkey’s IMEAK chamber of shipping, at least 163 civilian and commercial vessels were hit in the Black Sea during the first eight months of this year. Țoiu noted that the maritime attacks coincide with an increasing number of Russian Shahed and other aerial and maritime drones entering Romanian territory, with three such incursions recorded on Thursday alone.
Romania has informed its allies and European partners about the latest incidents, emphasizing the need for a ceasefire in the Black Sea to stop the risk to civilian ships and restore safety of navigation on an essential global food trade artery.
The attacks have also been condemned by Ukraine and the EU. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha blamed Russia for the attacks, denouncing Moscow's 'deliberate disregard for civilian lives and maritime security in the Black Sea.'
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said the attacks show ongoing risks to civilian shipping in the Black Sea, where merchant vessels have repeatedly been hit by drones, missiles, and mines since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The Panama Maritime Authority reported that a drone attack in the Black Sea killed one crew member and injured at least two others on a Panama-flagged merchant vessel. The authority did not say who was responsible for the strike.
What this adds
The attacks have also been condemned by Ukraine and the EU. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha blamed Russia for the attacks, denouncing Moscow's 'deliberate disregard for civilian lives and maritime security in the Black Sea.'
The Panama Maritime Authority did not say who was responsible for the strike.
Background
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said drones struck two ships off Bulgaria's Black Sea coast, sinking one and prompting emergency rescue operations.
Separately, two merchant ships, the Togo-flagged Alfa Watan and the Palau-flagged Able, were hit by drones of unknown origin about 112 kilometers (70 miles) off Bulgaria's coast on Oct. 6.
What's confirmed
- “In its war of aggression against Ukraine, against all provisions of international law, Russia is making the Black Sea into a dangerous area for civilian ships,” Țoiu wrote in a Twitter post.
- “This happens at the same time that we see an increasing number of Russian Shahed and other types of air and maritime drones entering our space, three of them just today.” Romania has informed its allies and European partners about the latest incidents.
- The minister said four merchant vessels had been attacked over the previous 24 hours, including in Romanian territorial waters and its exclusive economic zone.
What's still developing
- On June 26, Russia announced the closure of Romania’s mission in St. Petersburg and expelled its consul general in retaliation for Bucharest’s decision.
- “These are callous and murderous attacks against civilians,” she added.
- "Those responsible should be held accountable." NATO chief Mark Rutte said the alliance would adjust its defenses "as needed." Radev said the Ukrainian-owned Chelsea 3 was "hit by three aerial drones" and shortly afterward another ship was "struck" and sank further north off the coast of the NATO and EU member.
- "This is absolutely unacceptable — another attack in the immediate vicinity of Bulgarian territorial waters," Radev said in a televised address.
- "The Black Sea is a lifeline for global food security. Russia is attacking it to weaponise hunger and hold the world hostage," he posted on X.