The cargo ship Khoryv, sailing under the flag of the Comoros, sank in the Black Sea near the Romanian port of Constanța on October 23 following a suspected drone strike. According to Romanian authorities and media reports, the vessel was hit by a drone. One crew member was killed, nine sailors were rescued, and three remained missing.
Romania's Maritime Authority said a distress signal was received at approximately 10 a.m. local time. The vessel was about 13 nautical miles east of Constanța, outside Romanian territorial waters. Thirteen people were aboard: ten Ukrainian nationals and three Azerbaijani nationals.
The Khoryv departed Turkey on October 21 and was heading to the Romanian port of Sulina. A fire broke out aboard the vessel following the suspected drone impact. The ship sustained severe damage and sank.
Rescue vessels were dispatched to the scene. Responders recovered nine survivors and the body of one deceased crew member. The search for the remaining sailors continued.
Rough seas and poor visibility complicated the rescue operation. Romanian authorities said weather conditions prevented the use of helicopters.
Romanian President Nicușor Dan condemned the attack and urged Russia to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine. However, publicly available evidence does not independently establish the drone's origin or identify the party responsible for the incident.
The sinking occurred amid other attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea. Several civilian ships were damaged near the Romanian and Bulgarian coasts in October.
The proximity of the Khoryv's sinking to Romania's coastline has renewed concerns about the safety of commercial shipping near the territory of a NATO member state.