Two people have died and 11 others were rescued after a suspected Russian drone strike hit a cargo ship in the Black Sea. The Royad Mammadov burst into flames off the coast of Romania, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accusing Russia of targeting the civilian vessel with two drones.
The Turkish-owned ship was carrying corn and travelling from the Ukrainian port of Izmail to Ravenna in Italy when the incident unfolded outside Romania's territorial waters. Mr Zelensky said the vessel had been sailing in neutral waters when it was struck, with Azerbaijani and Indian citizens among those on board.
Captain killed in attack
Mr Zelensky said: "A horrific strike by two Russian drones on a civilian vessel in neutral waters carrying corn and owned by Türkiye. Azerbaijani and Indian citizens were on board. As of now, unfortunately, we know that the ship’s captain was killed. My condolences. The fate of one other person is still being established. Eleven crew members were rescued, one of them injured."
Romania's Interior Ministry said 11 crew members were rescued from the vessel, which sank following the fire. Romanian authorities have not commented on what caused the blaze, meaning the allegation that Russian drones struck the ship has not been independently confirmed.
Rescue operation launched
Romanian maritime authorities said the first report of the incident was received at 10.37am local time, when crew members requested help and reported that a fire had broken out on board. Multiple rescue vessels were scrambled as part of the operation, while injured crew members were winched aboard a helicopter operated by Romania's General Aviation Inspectorate to receive emergency medical assistance.
Romania's Interior Ministry said the vessel was in the country's exclusive economic zone, approximately 30 nautical miles south of Sfântul Gheorghe. The incident was also reported to have happened around nine miles from the Pescăruş Platform, an offshore oil and gas facility in the Black Sea.
No comment from Russia
Russian authorities had made no immediate comment on Mr Zelensky's accusation. However, an earlier daily bulletin from the Russian Defence Ministry said Russian forces had struck two cargo vessels. Sources cited by Romanian media earlier claimed the vessel had been hit by "two or three drones", while Mr Zelensky specifically accused Russia of striking it with two drones.
The platform is operated by Romanian energy company OMV Petrom, which said it was continuing to operate normally following the incident. The Royad Mammadov was flying under the flag of St Kitts and Nevis and is approximately 140 metres long.
Mr Zelensky said: "Ukraine has repeatedly proposed concrete steps to de-escalate the situation and ensure security in the Black Sea. There have also been relevant proposals from third countries. But Russia consistently chooses terror and sinking civilian vessels instead of normal maritime navigation. Pressure is needed to restore global food security. And everyone who is genuinely interested in this must help."
Romania, a NATO member, shares a 614km (382-mile) land border with Ukraine. Since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war four years ago, Russian drones have breached Romanian airspace, while mines have also been found floating in the Black Sea across key trade and energy routes.
