Two Dead After Ship Fire in Black Sea; Ukraine Blames Russian Drones
Romanian authorities confirmed the deaths and rescue of 11 crew members, while Ukraine's president alleged Russian drone involvement.
Two individuals died and 11 crew members were rescued following a fire aboard a ship in the Black Sea, off the coast of Romania. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russian drones were responsible for the incident, a claim that Russian authorities had not immediately commented on.
The ship, identified as the Royad Mammadov and flying under the flag of St. Kitts & Nevis, was en route to Ravenna, Italy, after its last port of call in Izmail, Ukraine, according to maritime tracking website VesselFinder.com.
Romanian authorities reported the fire and subsequent sinking of the vessel in waters outside their territorial limits. The country's interior ministry confirmed the rescue of the 11 crew members, with one sustaining injuries. The exact cause of the fire remains unconfirmed by Romanian officials.
President Zelensky shared on social media platform X that two Russian drones struck a civilian vessel carrying corn and owned by Turkey. He reported that the ship's captain was killed and the fate of one other individual was still being determined. He also noted that 11 crew members were rescued, one of whom was injured.
Earlier reports indicated the incident occurred near an oil platform operated by Romanian energy company OMV Petrom. The company stated that the platform was functioning normally.
NATO member Romania shares a significant border with Ukraine. Since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Black Sea region has experienced increased activity, including airspace breaches by Russian drones and the presence of drifting mines, impacting key trade and energy routes.