Another vessel incident in the Black Sea: ‘Escalation’

One person has died and several are missing after a ship in the Black Sea sent out emergency signals.

Nine people have been rescued, one has been found dead and three are missing, according to Romania’s maritime authority.

President Nicusor Dan blames Russia.

“This is clearly part of the escalation that Russia is carrying out as part of the war in Ukraine,” he told reporters.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has also reacted to “yet another Russian escalation”.

“A civilian vessel with a Ukrainian and Azerbaijani crew has been struck off the coast of Romania. These reckless attacks target innocent lives and blatantly violate international law,” she wrote on X.

In recent weeks, several vessels have been subjected to suspected Russian drone attacks in or near Romanian and Bulgarian waters, prompting NATO to send reinforcements to the area.

^{Cover image: Romanian President Nicusor Dan accuses Russia. Picture taken in Bucharest in September. Photo: Andreea Alexandru/AP/TT}