A coordinated drone attack caused fires on two commercial vessels near the coasts of Romania, leaving at least seven sailors missing. The incident triggered alarms in the region, forcing the deployment of Spanish F-18 fighters and once again focusing attention on Russia's actions in international waters.

Maritime security in the Black Sea has collapsed once again. The president of Romania, Nicusor Dan, confirmed that the fire on two commercial vessels was caused by drone impacts, in a context of growing hostility linked to the war between Russia and Ukraine.

The toll of the attack: A tanker flying the flag of San Marino (the Wine Trader) and a tanker from Comoros were the targets. So far, at least seven crew members are reported missing.

The military response was immediate. Upon the detection of unidentified radar traces, two Spanish F-18 fighters took off on maximum alert from Romanian bases, as part of the NATO security commitment.

Although the government of Bucharest has been cautious and has not formally attributed authorship to Vladimir Putin, authorities are investigating the Russian lead due to the prior detection of Kremlin drones in the area and the strategy of bombings on Ukrainian ports.

Escalation of violence in the Black Sea

This attack is not an isolated event. In the last ten days, the frequency of aggressions against civilians has increased drastically:

Data Detail
Ships attacked More than 5 vessels of various nationalities
Victims At least 23 sailors dead or missing
Affected areas Coasts of Romania and Bulgaria

Given this scenario, Romania and Bulgaria will submit an urgent request to the European Union and NATO to implement the following measures:

  • Creation of a Maritime Security Center specialized in preventing offensives.
  • Establishment of an attack moratorium against civilian ships.
  • Supply of more advanced air defense and surveillance equipment.

Meanwhile, the logistical war continues: while Russia pressures Ukrainian ports, Kyiv has responded by attacking Russian ships near the mouth of the Don River, in the Sea of Azov.

Source: IMAGO