In the territorial waters of Romania, approximately 12 kilometers north of the town of Sfântu Gheorghe, a drone struck a commercial vessel flying the Palau flag. The incident occurred in the evening, around 21:40 on Friday, as the ship was heading towards Ukrainian ports via Sulina. The drone strike resulted in no casualties or injuries among the crew members, and no fire broke out on board following the impact.
Incident Details and Extent of Damage
According to preliminary reports from the scene, the attacked vessel Larissa 1 sustained localized infrastructure damage. Industry specialists estimate that the drone strike hit the cargo crane used for loading and unloading operations. The rest of the ship's compartments and systems remained intact, averting a critical failure or ecological crisis in the Black Sea waters.
Romanian Authorities' Reaction and Official Statements
Romanian Defense Minister Ștefan-Radu Oprea confirmed the attack on the vessel during his visit to the military port of Constanța on Saturday. The defense chief noted that specialized services are continuing a detailed investigation into the incident and gathering all necessary information. Oprea also emphasized that air raid alerts had been declared in Tulcea County on Friday due to approaching objects.
Regional Security and Response Measures
The Black Sea region faces escalating risks to commercial shipping, compelling coastal states to strengthen coordination. In late October, the defense ministers of Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey condemned recent attacks on civilian vessels and agreed to establish a security coordination mechanism. An additional protection tool will be the Black Sea Maritime Security Hub, for which the European Union will allocate 50 million euros.
