A drone hit and sank a cargo vessel in new Black Sea attack near Romania, killing 1
A drone hit and sank a cargo vessel in the Black Sea on Friday, killing one crew member and leaving three missing, officials said.
The attack occurred about 13 nautical miles east of the port city of Constanta, near Romania's territorial waters. The vessel, identified as the Comoros-flagged Khoryv, had departed Turkey on October 21 and was headed for Romania's Sulina port when it was struck. The crew consisted of 10 Ukrainian citizens and three Azerbaijanis, with nine successfully rescued.
Escalating attacks
This incident marks at least the eighth attack on cargo vessels in the Black Sea this month off the coasts of NATO members Romania and Bulgaria, resulting in two people dead and 25 missing. Video released by Romania's Interior Ministry showed only the ship's hull protruding above the surface in rough seas.
Ongoing operations
Romanian naval authorities confirmed that search and rescue operations continue to locate the three missing crew members. unfavorable weather conditions and low visibility have prevented the deployment of helicopters for the rescue efforts. On Saturday, Romanian pilots on air policing duties shot down two drones in Romania's territorial waters over the Black Sea.
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