Two people have been killed after a general cargo ship was struck by a suspected drone in the Black Sea off Romania’s coast.
Eleven crew members were rescued after a Turkish-owned ship was struck following what Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said was a Russian drone strike.
Zelenskyy described the attack as “a horrific strike by two Russian drones on a civilian vessel in neutral waters.” He said the vessel was carrying corn and belonged to Türkiye.
Azerbaijani and Indian citizens were on board, he added.
Zelenskyy said the captain had died and the fate of one crew member was still being determined.
“As of now, regrettably, it is known that the ship’s captain has been killed. The fate of one more person is still being clarified,” he wrote on X, accusing Moscow of choosing “terror and the sinking of civilian vessels instead of normal shipping.”
Eleven crew members were rescued, one of them injured.
“Ukraine has repeatedly proposed concrete steps for de-escalation and ensuring safety in the Black Sea,” he said. “There have also been relevant proposals from third countries. Pressure is needed to restore global food security. And everyone who is truly interested in this must help.”
Romania’s ministry of internal affairs later confirmed that 11 crew members were rescued, and two deceased persons have also been identified after the ship caught fire about 30 nautical miles south of Sfântu Gheorghe.
“On 05.10.2026, at around 11:00, Coast Guard border police officers were informed that a fire had broken out on board a commercial vessel located within Romania’s exclusive economic zone,” the ministry said in a statement.
“The structures of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are carrying out a complex mission to rescue the crew of a ship that sank in the Black Sea,” the ministry stressed.
An aviation helicopter winched injured crew members aboard for emergency treatment. Coast Guard vessels and the helicopter continued search-and-rescue operations in the area.
Photo: Romania ministry of internal affairs / Mission to rescue the crew
MRCC Constanța launched a search and rescue operation for people in danger at sea, with the Coast Guard ship being designated as the on-site coordinator of search and rescue activities.
At the time of Zelenskyy’s statement, Ukraine had confirmed the death of the ship’s captain while another person remained unaccounted for.
The embassy of India in Bucharest initially said it had learnt of an attack on a general cargo ship in the Black Sea. Minutes later, it issued a follow-up statement saying it had spoken to all three Indian nationals and confirmed that they are in good health and receiving necessary care.
“All three Indian nationals are safe. We have spoken to them. One of them has been injured and is receiving medical attention,” it said.
The embassy added that it was in close contact with the hospital authorities and was extending “all possible support” to the Indian crew members.
The incident adds another layer of risk for commercial ships operating around the Black Sea.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has repeatedly spilled into the waters and airspace around the region. Ships carrying civilian cargo have continued to use the area despite the risks posed by missiles, drones and sea mines.
