Key facts
- Seven sailors are missing after drones struck two tankers near Romania's Black Sea coast.
- A Nato military source stated the drones were of Russian origin.
- All crew on the Yara J tanker were safe.
- At least 23 sailors have been reported missing or killed in attacks on commercial shipping near Bulgaria and Romania in the past 10 days.
Seven sailors are missing after drones struck two tankers near Romania’s Black Sea coast, setting them ablaze and raising fresh security concerns on a vital shipping route. A Nato military source told Reuters the drones that hit the Wine Trader and the Yara J were of Russian origin. Romania's president described the situation as serious, with commercial ships being attacked and seafarers killed, injured, and missing. He stated this is unacceptable and must stop. The missing crew were from the Wine Trader, a San-Marino flagged tanker travelling from Tunisia to Romania. All crew on the Yara J, which was struck just inside Romanian waters late on Wednesday, were safe. Similar incidents in recent weeks have raised fears that the zone is becoming another front in Russia’s war on Ukraine. On Tuesday, drone strikes on two ships off the coast of Bulgaria prompted emergency rescue operations, with 11 crew members from the HS Dignity still missing. On another ship, the Ukrainian-operated Chelsea 3, rescuers evacuated all 15 crew members, with five receiving treatment for minor injuries. At least 23 sailors have been reported missing or killed after attacks on commercial shipping near the coasts of Bulgaria and Romania in the past 10 days.