Three ships hit in Black Sea; two sink as UN warns of food risks

Three merchant vessels were struck in Black Sea incidents on 5 and 6 October, according to maritime security firm Ambrey. Two sank. The incidents left two people dead in Romanian waters and two sailors seriously injured in Bulgarian waters, according to authorities cited by the Associated Press. [2] [3] [4]

On 6 October, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said drones had hit two ships in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone. The Alfa Watan sank, while the Able caught fire. A Bulgarian ferry evacuated all 18 people aboard the Able; two sailors were flown to hospital with severe injuries. Radev had no immediate information on the Alfa Watan’s crew. [3]

The previous day, a fire broke out aboard the Royad Mammadov in Romania’s exclusive economic zone. The vessel later sank; Romanian authorities said two people died and 11 crew members were rescued. They had not confirmed reports that a drone caused the fire. [4]

At a UN briefing on 6 October, spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric relayed a warning from Alexander De Croo, head of the UN Development Programme, that attacks on grain-carrying ships threatened crews and could deepen food insecurity beyond the region. Radev said the Able was carrying wheat but the Alfa Watan’s cargo was unknown. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Royad Mammadov was carrying corn. Ambrey assessed that all three ships had links to Ukrainian grain exports; that assessment does not establish what each was carrying when it was hit. [1] [2] [3] [4]

The incidents occurred during the full-scale war Russia launched against Ukraine in 2022. Zelenskyy blamed Russia for the incidents, and Ambrey assessed Russian responsibility as highly likely. Bulgarian authorities were investigating the drones’ origin. Romania’s Interior Ministry did not identify the cause of Monday’s fire; authorities had not confirmed reports of a drone strike.