Drones Strike Three Commercial Ships Off Romania's Black Sea Coast

Three commercial vessels were struck by drones near Romania's Black Sea coast on 13 and 14 Nov 2026, damaging a Ukraine-bound cargo ship and sparking fires aboard two other ships, Romanian authorities confirmed. No casualties were reported in any of the incidents. The Palau-flagged vessel Larissa 1 was hit at around 9:40 p.m. local time on 13 Nov 2026, approximately 12 kilometers from the Romanian coast near Sfântu Gheorghe while heading to the port of Sulina, with Ukraine reportedly its final destination. The strike damaged a cargo crane but did not cause a fire or injuries, according to the ship's captain. Romanian Defense Minister Ștefan-Radu Oprea confirmed an investigation was underway and said at least two drone alerts had been issued in Tulcea County that day. On the evening of 14 Nov 2026, two more vessels were struck near Sulina. The Greek-flagged tanker Evia Petrol V was hit at about 9:10 p.m. local time roughly 4 nautical miles east-southeast of Sulina, followed about 35 minutes later by a strike on the bulk carrier Marsol near the Sulina Canal. Both caught fire, which crews extinguished. Romania's Defense Ministry also detected an aerial target east of Snake Island, prompting deployment of two F-16 jets. The origin of the drones has not been established. The incidents follow earlier attacks on shipping near Constanta on 23 and 28 Oct 2026, one of which left a sailor dead and three missing. Romania, a NATO member bordering Ukraine along the Danube, has repeatedly monitored drone activity during Russia's invasion.