Two seafarers died and 11 crew members were rescued after a merchant vessel caught fire and sank in the Black Sea inside Romania's exclusive economic zone; Romanian media reported a possible drone strike. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky blamed Russian drones and condemned attacks on civilian shipping. Separately, at least six people were killed and 59 injured in a glide-bomb attack on Kharkiv, and the Palanca border crossing with Moldova was damaged. Zelensky said he expects a trilateral meeting could be organised in October, though doubts remain about Moscow's willingness to negotiate.
Two Crew Members Killed After Merchant Ship Sinks in Black Sea; Ukraine Blames Russian Drones
FILE PHOTO - Ships wait on the horizon to enter the port of Constanta. Russia's war against Ukraine has disrupted the export of Ukrainian wheat through the country's Black Sea ports. Romania's Danube Delta forms part of an alternative route that has become a bottleneck. (is associated with: «Two crew-members dead as merchant ship sinks in the Black Sea») Kathrin Lauer/dpa
Romanian authorities reported on Monday that two seafarers have died after a merchant vessel sank in the Black Sea. Eleven crew members were rescued, the Romanian Ministry of the Interior said. Officials said the ship caught fire before sinking.
Incident in Romania's Exclusive Economic Zone
The ministry said the incident occurred roughly 30 nautical miles (about 55.6 kilometres) south of the Romanian Black Sea town of Sfântu Gheorghe, inside Romania's exclusive economic zone. Romanian media quoted sources saying the vessel may have been struck by a drone, but authorities initially offered no official confirmation of those reports.
Unconfirmed reports say the ship was Turkish-flagged, carrying grain and bound for Italy. Rescue teams recovered eleven crew members; two were later confirmed dead.
Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine's President, welcomes Germany's Chancellor Merz at a reception at the Presidential Palace on Sunday. (is associated with: «Two crew-members dead as merchant ship sinks in the Black Sea») Kay Nietfeld/dpa
Accusations and Reactions
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the sinking as a 'horrific strike' by two Russian drones on the freighter and condemned attacks on civilian shipping. In a social media post he wrote that Kiev had repeatedly proposed measures to de-escalate maritime tensions in the Black Sea but accused Russia of choosing 'terror and sinking civilian vessels instead of normal maritime navigation.'
'But Russia consistently chooses terror and sinking civilian vessels instead of normal maritime navigation,' President Zelensky said.
Related Attacks in Ukraine
Separately, authorities said at least six people were killed and 59 others wounded in a Russian glide-bomb attack on the eastern city of Kharkiv on Monday. Rescue teams continued searching the rubble of a damaged residential building for possible additional victims. The Ukrainian Interior Ministry said the clean-up operation was ongoing into the evening.
Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said the Russian air force used three glide bombs. These weapons are released by aircraft from within their own secure airspace and then glide for many kilometres toward their target under guidance.
FILE PHOTO - Ukrainian rescuers work at the site of a drone strike on a residential area in Kharkiv. (is associated with: «Two crew-members dead as merchant ship sinks in the Black Sea») Nicolas Cleuet/Le Pictorium via ZUMA Press/dpa
Border Crossing Struck Near Moldova
In southern Ukraine, a projectile struck the Palanca border crossing with the Republic of Moldova during another Russian attack, local media reported. A Ukrainian border guard was reportedly slightly injured. Reports said a coach and a border control hut at the crossing sustained damage.
Russian forces have repeatedly targeted Ukrainian border crossings with Poland, Moldova and Romania in what analysts say appears to be an effort to disrupt and isolate Ukraine.
Diplomacy and the Prospect of Talks
In his evening address on Monday, President Zelensky said he is hopeful that negotiations to end the war could resume soon. 'I expect that the American side will succeed in organizing a trilateral meeting in October,' he said, adding that the Ukrainian negotiating team is prepared and that 'this willingness must now also come from Russia.'
Zelensky urged Moscow to prioritise diplomacy and called on the United States and other partners to press Russia to take concrete steps toward talks rather than continuing attacks. While Moscow has at times signalled a readiness to negotiate, Kiev, Western partners and independent observers remain sceptical about Russia's willingness to engage in meaningful diplomacy.
Context
The Black Sea has frequently been the scene of attacks since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than four and a half years ago. Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated earlier this month that Moscow was prepared to enter talks but insisted any negotiations must be acceptable to the Russian Federation.
Help us improve.
