Romanian PM Condemns Drone Strikes on 3 Commercial Ships Off Danube Delta

Romanian Prime Minister Luca Niculescu has denounced drone attacks on three commercial ships near the Danube Delta on Saturday, Nov. 14, stating that the strikes violated international law stemming from Russia's conflict with Ukraine. The Romanian Air Force deployed fighter jets twice in response to alerts from defense radars detecting aerial objects in the region.

Niculescu highlighted on X on Nov. 15 that the Romanian Ministry of Defence radars also detected aerial threats, prompting fighter jet scrambles. He reiterated his ongoing coordination with defense and maritime authorities to safeguard sailors operating in the area. "These incidents are unacceptable and constitute a violation of international law," Niculescu emphasized, stressing Romania's commitment to working with regional partners and NATO allies to enhance security across the Black Sea.

The Saturday evening attacks off Sulina followed an unidentified drone strike on the Palau-flagged commercial cargo ship Larissa 1 the previous night, causing damage to the vessel's cargo crane but not endangering crew members. This incident is part of a series of fatal attacks on commercial shipping near Romania's Black Sea coastline in recent weeks, including the sinking of the Comoros-flagged Khoryv in October, which resulted in one death and three missing crew members, and the sinking of the Turkish-owned grain carrier Royad Mammadov, which killed two crew members.

These recurring incidents underscore the growing threat to global maritime trade in the Black Sea, with Ambrey reporting over 300 attacks in 2026, leading to more than 30 seafarer fatalities and 20 missing, surpassing maritime fatalities in the Strait of Hormuz and the Middle East.