Drones have struck three commercial ships in the Black Sea near Romania's Sulina canal, Prime Minister Luca Niculescu said, calling the attacks unacceptable and a violation of international law. Defense Minister Stefan Radu Oprea said the strikes came late on Saturday, that there were no casualties, and that crews managed to extinguish the fires that broke out on board. Romanian Air Force fighter jets were scrambled on two separate occasions after ministry radars detected aerial targets in the area.
The ships hit were the Greek-flagged oil and chemical tanker Evia Petrol V, the bulk carrier Marsol and the oil products tanker Ali Najafov, both flying the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis. Evia Petrol V and Marsol were struck 4 and 5 nautical miles southeast of the Sulina canal, inside Romanian territorial waters, according to the defense ministry. Oprea said a separate general cargo ship was hit by a drone late on Friday with no casualties; Private broadcaster Digi24 identified it as the Palau-flagged Larissa 1, which Ukrainian media reported was sailing towards Ukraine.S1S2
The Sulina canal links the Danube river to the Black Sea and is used by Ukraine to export goods, which is why the strikes are being read as a spillover of the Russia-Ukraine war into NATO territory. Romanian officials did not identify the origin of the drones but said the attacks were a direct consequence of Russia's war in Ukraine, and Niculescu pledged to take necessary measures with allies to strengthen Black Sea security. Russia has denied targeting Ukraine's neighbours with drones. Many of the ships hit in October and November were anchored near or sailing to or from the Sulina canal, and France temporarily moved its Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft to Romania at Bucharest's request.S1S2
Oprea is due to attend a meeting of defence ministers in Brussels on Tuesday and Wednesday, where the Black Sea security situation is expected to be discussed. He said Romania needs allied solidarity, shown through patrols by surveillance aircraft and equipment for counter-drone warfare.S1S2
