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Black Sea Drones Hit Ships Near Romania
15 Nov
Summary
- Three commercial ships were struck by drones near Romania's Sulina canal.
- Crews controlled onboard fires; no casualties reported from drone attacks.
- Romania requested allied support for counter-drone capabilities.
Three commercial ships were struck by drones near Romania's Sulina canal on the night of Saturday, November 12, 2026. Romanian Prime Minister Luca Niculescu confirmed the attacks and stated that fighter jets were scrambled twice. Defence Minister Stefan Radu Oprea reported that there were no casualties, and the crews successfully controlled the fires on board.
The affected vessels were identified as the Greek-flagged oil and chemical tanker Evia Petrol V, and the Saint Kitts and Nevis-flagged bulk carrier Marsol and oil products tanker Ali Najafov. Two of these ships were struck within Romanian territorial waters, approximately four and five nautical miles southeast of the Sulina canal.
Additionally, a general cargo ship, identified as the Palau-flagged Larissa 1, was hit by a drone late on Friday, November 11, 2026, also without casualties. Officials pointed to these incidents as a direct consequence of Russia's war in Ukraine, calling them unacceptable violations of international law.
Romania is seeking solidarity from its allies, with Defence Minister Oprea scheduled to attend a meeting in Brussels. He emphasized the need for patrols with surveillance aircraft and counter-drone warfare equipment. France has temporarily relocated its Atlantique 2 maritime patrols aircraft to Romania in response to the escalating situation.
