World · Europe · 1 hr ago
Cargo ship sinks off Romania; one dead and three missing
A cargo ship sank off Romania’s Black Sea coast after catching fire and capsizing.
The Comoros-flagged Khoryv was about 13 nautical miles from the port of Constanta, with 13 Ukrainian and Azerbaijani sailors aboard.
Nine crew members were rescued, one was found dead and three remain missing as search teams worked in rough seas.
Romanian President Nicusor Dan blamed Russia and said a drone hit the ship, while another account described a fire without attributing its cause.
The sinking comes amid a recent rise in attacks on commercial ships near Romania and Bulgaria, with at least seven vessels hit in two weeks, according to Romanian officials.
The ships have been near or heading towards the Sulina Canal, an important route for Ukraine’s grain and food oil exports.
NATO plans to send more patrol aircraft, radar systems and drones to the Black Sea, while Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria have urged the alliance to better protect shipping.
The Comoros-flagged cargo ship Khoryv sank after being struck by a drone near Romania’s Black Sea coast on October 23, Romanian authorities said.
One crew member died and three were missing; nine were rescued alive, while another crew member was recovered dead.
The ship had 13 crew members: 10 Ukrainians and three Azerbaijanis.
Romanian President Nicusor Dan blamed Russia for the attack, which he said was part of an escalation in the war against Ukraine.
Romania and NATO have announced plans to expand surveillance and other capabilities in the Black Sea.
- Who
- The ship was crewed by 10 Ukrainians and three Azerbaijanis. One died and three were missing.
- What
- The cargo ship Khoryv sank after being struck by a drone.
- When
- October 23, 2026. It sent a distress signal around 10 a.m. local time.
- Where
- About 13 nautical miles from the Romanian port of Constanta, near Romanian territorial waters in the Black Sea.
- Why
- Romanian President Nicusor Dan blamed Russia and described the attack as part of its escalation in the war against Ukraine.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Seven crew members went missing after the chemical tanker Wine Trader caught fire off Romania following a drone attack.
NATO’s North Atlantic Council met in Brussels to discuss security in the Black Sea.
The Khoryv sent a distress signal about 13 nautical miles from Constanta.
Romanian authorities reported that the ship had capsized and that nine crew members were rescued alive, one had died and three were missing.
- Vessel
- Khoryv
- Flag
- Comoros
- Crew
- 13 people: 10 Ukrainians and three Azerbaijanis
- Rescued alive
- 9
- Dead and missing
- 1 dead; 3 missing
- Location
- About 13 nautical miles from Constanta, Romania
5 sources
Romania Blames Russia for Deadly Drone Attack on Cargo Ship
Civilian cargo ship sinks off coast of Romania after Russian drone strike, authorities say
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Romania blames Russia for drone that sinks cargo ship; 1 killed, 3 missing
Romania says rescue mission underway after Black Sea ship fire; 1 dead, 3 missing
What people are saying
It is part of the escalation that Russia is carrying out in the context of the war in Ukraine
It is time for Russia to take the peace initiatives proposed by the United States and Europe seriously, accept the ceasefire proposals and end the war.
unacceptable and constitutes a flagrant violation of international law
Of the 13 people on board, ten were recovered by another commercial vessel in the area, nine alive and one deceased.