NATO calls emergency meeting after Russian attacks on ships in Black Sea
Photo: NATO headquarters (Getty Images)
NATO ambassadors will meet next week to discuss the incident involving a ship fire off the coast of Romania and neighboring Bulgaria, which was caused by a drone attack, according to France24.
According to Romanian authorities, the San Marino-flagged tanker Wine Trader caught fire on the morning of Thursday, October 15, approximately 24 kilometers southeast of the city of Sulina. The vessel was en route from Tunisia to Romania.
Five crew members were rescued, while seven others are still missing. Two Black Hawk helicopters and two ships carrying medical personnel were deployed for the search-and-rescue operation. However, rescue efforts were hampered by strong waves.
Romanian President Nicușor Dan stated that both vessels involved in the recent incidents were attacked by drones. However, he did not directly accuse Russia and emphasized that the Romanian side must establish all the circumstances of the events.
Previous attacks
The previous evening, on October 14, a fire broke out on another tanker—the Yara J, flying the Comoros flag. The vessel was in Romanian territorial waters. The crew managed to extinguish the fire on their own, and there were no casualties.
Both vessels were anchored near the mouth of the Sulina Canal, which leads to the Danube. This route is of vital importance for Ukrainian exports, as shipments through Danube ports and adjacent maritime routes have taken on particular significance following Russian strikes on Ukraine's port infrastructure.
Romania and Bulgaria have reported new incidents involving commercial vessels in the Black Sea in recent weeks. On Tuesday, October 13, drones attacked two vessels off the coast of Bulgaria. One of them sank, and the crews were in danger.
Bulgarian authorities stated that they currently do not have sufficient evidence to definitively determine the origin of the drones, although they expressed suspicions regarding Russia's involvement.
