Two Killed as Drones Hit Turkish-Owned Cargo Ship in Black Sea

BUCHAREST, ROMANIA — WEB DESK: Two people were killed and another crew member was injured after a Turkish-owned civilian cargo ship caught fire in the Black Sea, with Ukraine blaming two Russian drones for striking the vessel.

The MV Royad Mammadov, sailing under the flag of St Kitts and Nevis, was carrying corn after departing the Ukrainian Danube port of Izmail and was travelling towards Ravenna, Italy.

The incident occurred outside Romania’s territorial waters but within its exclusive economic zone, approximately 30 nautical miles south of Sfântu Gheorghe.

Romanian authorities launched a rescue operation after receiving information about the emergency and rescued 11 crew members from the vessel.

Two people were confirmed dead.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said two Russian drones struck the civilian vessel in neutral waters.

The ship’s captain was among those killed. Ukrainian authorities initially said the fate of another crew member was being established before Romanian authorities confirmed a second death.

Russia had not publicly confirmed responsibility for the specific attack at the time of the latest reports.

The vessel’s crew included Azerbaijani and Indian nationals.

Three Indian citizens were aboard the ship, with one suffering injuries and receiving medical treatment in Romania.

The Indian Embassy in Romania later confirmed that all three Indian crew members were safe and remained in contact with medical and local authorities.

The incident caused a fire aboard the vessel, which later sank.

Romanian authorities said the emergency occurred near an offshore oil platform operated by OMV Petrom. Operations at the platform were not affected.

The incident adds to growing concerns about the safety of civilian and commercial shipping in the Black Sea as the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues.

The Black Sea remains an important route for agricultural exports from Ukraine, including grain shipments destined for international markets.

Commercial vessels operating in the region have faced increasing risks from drones, missiles and drifting sea mines since the conflict began.

Zelenskyy condemned the incident and called for stronger international pressure to protect civilian navigation and global food supply routes.

The precise circumstances of the strike remain subject to investigation.

While Ukrainian authorities have blamed Russia, independent confirmation establishing which side launched the drones was not immediately available.