Seven sailors missing after drones strike tankers near Romania's Black Sea coast
Romania has reported seven sailors missing after drones struck two tankers near its Black Sea coast, setting both vessels ablaze and intensifying concern over commercial shipping in the region. The attacks took place inside Romanian territorial waters, close to a route used by cargo linked to Ukraine. One of the tankers, the Wine Trader, was travelling from Tunisia to Romania when it was hit.
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A NATO military source said the drones that caused the fires on board the two tankers were of Russian origin. Romanian President Nicușor Dan said the situation in the Black Sea was serious and described attacks on commercial ships as unacceptable. He said the issue had been discussed with Bulgaria's prime minister, Rumen Radev, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, with agreement to strengthen defences in the Black Sea.
The missing crew were on board the Wine Trader, a San Marino-flagged tanker. The other vessel, the Yara J, was struck just inside Romanian waters late on Wednesday, and all of its crew were reported safe. A NATO official said the matter would be discussed at a North Atlantic Council meeting next week, while Rutte said NATO would continue to work closely with allies in the Black Sea and adjust its deterrence and defence posture as needed.
The incident matters because it comes amid repeated maritime security incidents in the western Black Sea, an area that has become more exposed since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Romania shares a long border with Ukraine, much of it along the Danube, and the mouth of the river is a major shipping corridor for regional trade. Any disruption there has implications not only for civilian shipping but also for the movement of goods connected to Ukraine.
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Romania has experienced frequent drone incursions since the war began, including a daytime incursion last November that prompted NATO fighter jets to scramble. In recent weeks, similar attacks on merchant ships off Bulgaria have added to fears that the Black Sea is becoming another front in the conflict. Bulgarian and Romanian leaders have already been under pressure to consider stronger maritime defences and closer NATO coordination.
What remains unclear is who launched the drones, how the tankers were targeted, and whether the missing sailors can be found. Officials have not yet given a full forensic assessment of the damage or said whether the fires have been fully contained. The next developments to watch are the search effort, any findings from investigators, and whether NATO allies agree further measures to protect Black Sea shipping.
Romania has reported seven people missing after two drone attacks on ships in the Black Sea, in the latest incident to raise concern over commercial shipping near the country's coast. The attacks affected the Yara J and the Wine Trader, both of which were reported to have caught fire. Romanian President Nicușor Dan said the situation in the Black Sea was serious and that the trend was unacceptable.
According to Romanian authorities, the first incident involved the Comoros-flagged tanker Yara J on Wednesday evening, when a fire broke out on board after what officials described as a possible drone attack. The crew managed to extinguish the flames themselves. A second fire was reported at about 07:00 local time on Thursday on the Wine Trader, a San Marino-flagged chemical tanker, around 13 nautical miles southeast of Sulina.
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The Romanian Naval Authority said 12 people were on board, five were rescued and seven remained missing. The five rescued crew members were taken to hospital, where one was treated for burns to the scalp and another for mild smoke inhalation. Romanian officials said the Wine Trader was not carrying cargo at the time of the fire.
The incidents come amid a series of attacks on vessels in the western Black Sea in recent weeks, including a suspected drone strike on a cargo ship off Bulgaria earlier this week that left 11 crew members missing after the vessel sank. Bulgarian authorities also said a Ukrainian-owned cargo ship was hit by three drones on the same morning, although its crew was rescued. The latest attacks matter because they have taken place close to the shores of Romania and Bulgaria, both NATO members, and in waters that are important for regional trade.
The mouth of the Danube is a major shipping corridor, including for cargo linked to Ukraine, and repeated incidents have increased pressure on coastal states to strengthen maritime security. Dan said after meeting Bulgaria's leader and NATO chief Mark Rutte in Brussels that commercial ships were being attacked and sunk, and that lives, global trade and critical infrastructure were at stake. The reports also add to wider concern about spillover from the war in Ukraine into the Black Sea, where shipping has faced growing disruption in recent months.
Romanian officials have not yet said who launched the drones, and there has been no confirmed attribution for the attacks. Bulgaria has said it suspects Russia was behind the earlier sinking of the HS Dignity, but officials have also said they do not have solid evidence that the drones were Russian. What remains unclear is whether the missing crew from the Wine Trader can be found, how badly the vessel was damaged, and whether the fires were fully contained.
Authorities are continuing to assess the incidents and their possible link to the broader pattern of attacks in the region. The next developments to watch are the rescue effort, any forensic findings, and whether Romania and Bulgaria seek further NATO consultations over the security of Black Sea shipping.
Romanian authorities are continuing a search and rescue operation after a tanker caught fire off the country's Black Sea coast, with the president confirming that drones struck the vessel. The San Marino-flagged Wine Trader was reported 13 nautical miles east of the mouth of the River Danube at Sulina, where it later burned in rough seas. Eight of the 12 crew members are missing, while four are confirmed alive.
The tanker reported several explosions at about 07:00 local time on Thursday, and Romanian officials said two Black Hawk helicopters and two rescue boats have been deployed. The interior ministry released video showing one of the helicopters hovering above the vessel, but the operation has been complicated by very high waves. Romanian President Nicușor Dan said the state would respond once all the facts were known, while also confirming that the ship had been hit by drones.
The incident adds to a series of maritime security events in the western Black Sea in recent days. A swarm of Russian drones was detected overnight near Ukraine's Snake Island, close to the scene of the tanker fire, and earlier this week two merchant ships were struck by drones further south off Bulgaria, one of which sank. Bulgaria said it suspected Russia was behind that attack and summoned the country's envoy.
The location is significant because the Danube mouth is a major shipping corridor for regional trade and for cargo linked to Ukraine. Romania is a NATO member and borders Ukraine, making it especially sensitive to spillover from the war and to any threat to civilian shipping in nearby waters. The latest case also raises fresh questions about the security of commercial routes in the Black Sea, where repeated incidents have increased political pressure on coastal states.
The Wine Trader was sailing from Tunisia to Romania when it was hit, according to the supplied material. Romanian media cited crews on nearby ships as saying the tanker was struck by two drones, although officials have not yet released a full forensic assessment. The leaders of Romania and Bulgaria are due to discuss whether Article 4 of the Nato treaty should be invoked, which would allow consultations if a member believes its security is threatened.
What remains unclear is who launched the drones, how the tanker was targeted, and whether the missing crew can be found alive. Authorities have not said whether the fire has been fully brought under control or how badly the vessel was damaged. The next developments to watch are the rescue effort, any investigation findings, and whether the incident leads to further security measures for Black Sea shipping.
