Romania Blames Russia as Drone Sinks Ship Off Constanța, Killing Seafarer

One seafarer died, and three are missing after a Comoros-flagged cargo ship, Khoryv, sank in the Black Sea after getting hit by a drone strike. The incident took place about 13 nautical miles from the Romanian port of Constanța on October 23. The Romanian president has blamed Russia for this incident.

According to the Romanian Naval Authority, the vessel sent a distress signal at about 10:00 local time when the ship was just beyond the limits of Romanian territorial waters. The ship capsized after sustaining major damage from the strike. A small section of the overturned hull above water was seen in a video released by the Romanian authorities.

A total of 13 seafarers were on board the vessel, out of which, 10 were Ukrainian and 3 were Azerbaijani. 9 seafarers were recovered alive by rescuers and a commercial vessel which was nearby. The body of the tenth crew member was also recovered as emergency vessels continue to search for three missing seafarers in rough seas. The rescue efforts have been hampered due to adverse weather conditions and poor visibility. The Romanian Coast Guard and the Romanian Agency for the Rescue of Human Life at Sea joined the search under the naval authority’s coordination.

The death of one Ukrainian seafarer was confirmed by Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while four Ukrainians, including the captain, were undergoing treatment in the hospital.

This story was originally published by Marine Insight. Read the full story at Marine Insight →