BUCHAREST (The Thursday Times) — Drones struck three commercial vessels off Romania’s Black Sea coast on Saturday evening, Romanian authorities said, prompting Prime Minister Luca Niculescu to call the attacks “unacceptable” and a violation of international law.
The ships were hit near the Sulina canal, a key route linking the Danube river to the Black Sea that Ukraine uses to export goods. No injuries were reported, and the crews put out the fires that broke out on board, Defence Minister Stefan Radu Oprea said. The vessels were the Greek-flagged chemical tanker Evia Petrol V, the bulk carrier Marsol, which flies the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis, and the oil products tanker Ali Najafov.
Jets sent up
Niculescu said the attacks “reflect the deteriorating security situation caused by Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine”, and promised to take the necessary measures with allies to strengthen security in the Black Sea. Romanian defence ministry radars detected aerial targets in the area, he said, and the air force twice sent fighter jets to investigate.
A day earlier, Ukrainian media reported that another cargo vessel, the Palau-flagged Larissa 1, was hit by a drone while reportedly sailing towards Ukraine. Russia has denied targeting countries that neighbour Ukraine with drones.
Brussels talks next week
Oprea is due to meet his counterparts in Brussels next week, where the Black Sea security situation is expected to be discussed. “We need the solidarity of our allies, shown through patrols with surveillance aircraft and through equipment for counter-drone warfare,” he said.
