Drone strikes set two chemical tankers ablaze near Romania's Black Sea coast on Wednesday night and Thursday morning, leaving sailors missing and triggering rescue efforts hampered by heavy seas. For the first time in this recent spate of attacks on commercial shipping, strikes have fallen inside NATO territorial waters, according to the reports.
What happened
The two vessels were anchored near the mouth of the Sulina canal, the Danube channel that serves as a major export route for Ukraine as Russia continues to bomb its Black Sea ports. Seven of the 12 crew of the San Marino-flagged tanker Wine Trader, hit 13 nautical miles southeast of the canal — about a mile outside Romanian waters — were reported missing, with five rescued, according to Romania's naval authority; a later Reuters report put the number of missing at eight. The Comoros-flagged chemical and oil tanker Yara J was struck 8 to 10 miles southeast of Sulina inside Romanian waters late Wednesday; its crew extinguished the fire and all were reported safe. Rescue crews sent two Black Hawk helicopters and two vessels with medical staff, but officials said the operation could not proceed safely because of very big waves.
Attribution still open
Romanian President Nicusor Dan confirmed in Brussels that "two air drones hit them," adding that "there will be a reaction from the Romanian state," but he declined to say whether Russia was responsible. Romanian officials also stopped short of explicitly linking the fires to drones seen straying into Romanian airspace overnight, according to Reuters. The attacks continue a wave that has hit at least five other cargo vessels near the coasts of Romania and fellow NATO member Bulgaria over the past 10 days, leaving at least 23 sailors missing or dead — all previous strikes occurring outside NATO waters.
Alliance response
NATO said it was in close contact with Bucharest and noted two further vessels had been targeted overnight — the Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier Sea Destiny inside Romanian waters and the Tanzanian-flagged tanker Dania J moored at the Ukrainian Danube port of Izmail. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the alliance would adjust its deterrence and defence posture as needed after meeting the Romanian and Bulgarian leaders. Bulgaria's prime minister said EU leaders would discuss a proposed moratorium on attacks against civilian ships in the Black Sea.
Sources: Reuters via ThePrint · Al Jazeera
What happened
The two vessels were anchored near the mouth of the Sulina canal, the Danube channel that serves as a major export route for Ukraine as Russia continues to bomb its Black Sea ports. Seven of the 12 crew of the San Marino-flagged tanker Wine Trader, hit 13 nautical miles southeast of the canal — about a mile outside Romanian waters — were reported missing, with five rescued, according to Romania's naval authority; a later Reuters report put the number of missing at eight. The Comoros-flagged chemical and oil tanker Yara J was struck 8 to 10 miles southeast of Sulina inside Romanian waters late Wednesday; its crew extinguished the fire and all were reported safe. Rescue crews sent two Black Hawk helicopters and two vessels with medical staff, but officials said the operation could not proceed safely because of very big waves.
Attribution still open
Romanian President Nicusor Dan confirmed in Brussels that "two air drones hit them," adding that "there will be a reaction from the Romanian state," but he declined to say whether Russia was responsible. Romanian officials also stopped short of explicitly linking the fires to drones seen straying into Romanian airspace overnight, according to Reuters. The attacks continue a wave that has hit at least five other cargo vessels near the coasts of Romania and fellow NATO member Bulgaria over the past 10 days, leaving at least 23 sailors missing or dead — all previous strikes occurring outside NATO waters.
Alliance response
NATO said it was in close contact with Bucharest and noted two further vessels had been targeted overnight — the Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier Sea Destiny inside Romanian waters and the Tanzanian-flagged tanker Dania J moored at the Ukrainian Danube port of Izmail. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the alliance would adjust its deterrence and defence posture as needed after meeting the Romanian and Bulgarian leaders. Bulgaria's prime minister said EU leaders would discuss a proposed moratorium on attacks against civilian ships in the Black Sea.
Sources: Reuters via ThePrint · Al Jazeera
