The freighter who burned down in the North Sea today off Romania was hit by Russian drones, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after the Romanian authorities announced the death of two crew members.
© Lusa
05/10/2026
by
Lusa
“ Ua horrific attack by two Russian drones on a civilian ship owned by Turkey, which carried corn in neutral waters,” said the Ukrainian leader on social media, adding that the captain of the ship was killed.
The Romanian authorities accounted for two dead and 11 people rescued.
The authorities launched a “complex rescue operation” of the crew, in which maritime and air means participated, the Ministry of Internal Administration announced in a statement.
A helicopter rescued the wounded, of which the state is not indicated, and transported them to shore for emergency medical assistance.
The boat Royad Mammadov, with the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Caribbean country, and loaded with cereals, had left the Ukrainian port of Izmail and headed for Italy, according to local press.
The Coast Guard was alerted to the cargo fire this morning by the sea authorities in Constanza, Romania.
The Romanian press associated the fire with the impact of a drone, but Romania has not yet officially confirmed that this is the cause.
The freighter was in the exclusive economic zone of Romania, outside its territorial waters, about 30 nautical miles from the north coast of the country and near the border of Ukraine.
A Coast Guard vessel remains in the area to coordinate operations, with the participation of Border Police officers and personnel from the General Aviation Inspection.