Key facts
- The Khoryv, a civilian cargo ship flying the flag of Comoros, sank after a Russian drone strike.
- The ship was crewed by Ukrainian and Azerbaijani nationals.
- One crew member died, three are missing, and nine were rescued.
- NATO plans to increase its military presence in the Black Sea in response to attacks on civilian shipping.
A civilian cargo ship, the Khoryv, sank on October 23, 2026, after being struck by a Russian drone near Romania's Black Sea coast. The ship, which sailed under the flag of Comoros, had a crew of Ukrainian and Azerbaijani nationals. Romanian authorities reported that one crew member died, three are missing, and nine were rescued. The attack is the latest in a series of Russian strikes on civilian shipping in the Black Sea, which Romania's President Nicusor Dan described as a tragic consequence of Russia's aggression and economic warfare against Ukraine. In response to such attacks, NATO plans to increase its military presence in the Black Sea.