Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russian drones of striking the Turkish-owned grain ship Royad Mammadov in the Black Sea, after Romanian authorities reported it caught fire and sank about 30 nautical miles south of Sfântu Gheorghe. Two crew members were killed, 11 were rescued and three were airlifted with injuries. The incident highlights rising drone and maritime threats in the Black Sea and renewed concerns about shipping safety and global food security.
Ukraine Says Russian Drones Struck Turkish Grain Ship; Vessel Sinks, Two Dead
Turkish seafarers have staged protests over increased attacks and accidents in the Black Sea (BERK OZKAN)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that Russian drones struck a Turkish-owned grain freighter in the Black Sea, after Romanian authorities reported the vessel caught fire and later sank near Romania's coast.
Ship, casualties and rescue efforts
Romanian officials identified the vessel as the 139-metre Royad Mammadov. The interior ministry said the ship sank about 30 nautical miles south of the fishing port of Sfântu Gheorghe. Authorities reported two crew members were killed and 11 were rescued; three were injured and were airlifted to safety by helicopter. Zelensky said the ship's captain was among those killed. Romanian Naval Authority spokesperson Irina Puscasu told AFP that eight crew members were uninjured.
Claims and official statements
On X (formerly Twitter), Zelensky wrote that the freighter had been hit in 'a horrific strike by two Russian drones on a civilian vessel in neutral waters carrying corn,' and said the ship was Turkish-owned with Azerbaijani and Indian nationals aboard. Romanian authorities said they did not immediately assign a cause for the fire and sinking while rescue operations were under way.
Vessel movements and cargo
Tracking data compiled by Bloomberg indicated the Royad Mammadov last called at Izmail in southern Ukraine and left on September 18 fully laden; it had been bound for Ravenna, Italy. Romania's interior ministry confirmed the incident occurred within Romania's exclusive economic zone.
Wider context: drones, maritime hazards and food security
The Black Sea has seen a sharp increase in drone activity and other war-related hazards since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. Maritime risk firm Ambrey reported that war-related objects found in the Black Sea more than doubled over six months, with at least one-third carrying live payloads. These items include unexploded ordnance, drones and unmanned vehicles found washed ashore or floating at sea.
Turkey's Chamber of Maritime Commerce (IMEAK) said 226 civilian and commercial vessels have been attacked in the Black Sea since the war began, most of them this year. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described such strikes to the UN General Assembly as 'unacceptable.' Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine has proposed steps to de-escalate the situation and argued pressure is needed to help restore global food security.
Related incidents in the region
Recent months have seen several related maritime and drone incidents: in August, Romania shot down a marine drone near an offshore gas project with an F-16 — an incident blamed on Russia by Romanian officials — and in June a Ukrainian maritime drone exploded in the Romanian port of Constanţa without causing casualties; Kyiv said the device had been deflected by electronic interference.
What remains unclear
At the time of reporting, Romanian authorities had not publicly attributed the cause of the blaze or sinking beyond confirming the rescue and recovery operation. Zelensky's accusation attributes the strike to Russian drones; independent verification and investigations by maritime and international authorities will be necessary to confirm the sequence of events and responsibility.
Why it matters: The attack — if confirmed — underscores growing risks to civilian shipping in the Black Sea, threatens livelihoods and trade routes, and heightens concerns about the security of grain exports that feed global markets.
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