Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of a deadly drone strike on a Türkiye-owned cargo ship in the Black Sea, killing its captain and endangering a civilian crew that included Azerbaijani and Indian nationals.
“A horrific strike by two Russian drones on a civilian vessel in neutral waters, which was carrying corn and belonged to Türkiye,” Zelenskyy wrote on X on Monday. He said Azerbaijani and Indian nationals were among those on board, adding that the captain had been killed, one crew member remained unaccounted for and 11 others had been rescued, including one who was injured.
The accusation followed reports from Romanian authorities of a fatal incident involving a cargo vessel outside Romania's territorial waters in the Black Sea.
Romania's Interior Ministry said 11 crew members were rescued after a fire broke out on board the vessel, which later sank. The Romanian Naval Authority identified the ship as the Royad Mammadov.
Romanian officials did not specify what caused the fire, while Zelenskyy blamed Russian drones for the incident.
Russia had not responded to the allegation by Monday. However, the Russian Defence Ministry said in its daily bulletin that Russian forces had struck two cargo vessels.
Vessel-tracking data cited by Reuters showed the ship was sailing under the flag of St Kitts and Nevis, carrying corn and heading to Ravenna, Italy. It had previously called at the Ukrainian port of Izmail.
Romanian media said the incident occurred near an offshore platform operated by Romanian energy company OMV Petrom, which told local media the facility was operating normally.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine had repeatedly proposed measures to ensure safe navigation and reduce tensions in the Black Sea.
“Ukraine has repeatedly proposed concrete steps for de-escalation and ensuring safety in the Black Sea,” he said. “But Russia consistently chooses terror and the sinking of civilian vessels instead of normal shipping.”
He called for greater international pressure on Moscow to protect global food supplies and maritime trade.
The Black Sea has remained a vital route for grain exports since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Romania, a NATO member sharing a 614-kilometre border with Ukraine, has repeatedly reported incidents involving Russian drones and drifting mines near important shipping routes.
The Black Sea incident came as Russian attacks continued elsewhere in Ukraine.
Authorities in the northeastern city of Kharkiv said a Russian guided-bomb strike killed three people and injured 25 others on Monday.
Mayor Ihor Terekhov said residential buildings and warehouses were damaged.
The reported strike has also renewed attention on international concerns over the safety of Black Sea shipping.
Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said on Monday that New Delhi was holding discussions with Russia and Ukraine aimed at ensuring the safe passage of grain and fuel shipments through the region.
Separately, Germany's foreign intelligence chief warned that Russia was increasingly willing to employ aggressive tactics against European countries.
Martin Jaeger, head of Germany's Federal Intelligence Service (BND), told a parliamentary hearing that Moscow's confrontation with Europe had entered “a new, more dangerous dimension”.
“The confrontation we are facing with Russia has taken on a new, more dangerous dimension,” Jaeger said.
He added that Germany was “in danger of becoming embroiled in a violent conflict with Russia” and described Moscow as conducting a “shadow war” against European democracies through hybrid operations, including alleged drone and cyber attacks.
Jaeger said there was no indication of an imminent large-scale Russian attack on NATO territory but warned that Russia could undertake lower-intensity military activities, particularly in the Baltic region.
“Moscow is betting on our weakness,” he said. “We have to stand up to that.”
The intelligence chief also warned that Russia was seeking to undermine support for Ukraine and that Europe should prepare for a difficult winter marked by intensified Russian attacks.
The Kremlin has repeatedly denied plans to attack NATO members.
Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia had “no intention of attacking anyone” but would respond if subjected to aggression.
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