In brief: Romanian Prime Minister Luca Niculescu condemned a Saturday evening, Nov. 14 drone attack that struck three commercial vessels near the Danube Delta off Sulina, announcing on Sunday that Romanian Air Force fighter jets scrambled twice after defense radars detected aerial targets in the area. Calling the strikes an unacceptable violation of international law caused by Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine, Niculescu pledged continued coordination with regional partners and NATO allies to strengthen Black Sea security.
Romanian Prime Minister Luca Niculescu has condemned a fresh drone attack that struck three commercial vessels near the Danube Delta off Sulina on Saturday evening, Nov. 14, reporting that the Romanian Air Force scrambled fighter jets twice after defense radars detected aerial targets in the area.
Writing on X on Sunday, Nov. 15, Niculescu described the strikes on civilian shipping as a violation of international law driven by Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine.
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“Once again, maritime security in the Black Sea has been threatened. On Saturday evening, 14 November, three commercial vessels were struck by drones near the Danube Delta, off Sulina,” Niculescu stated.
“Romanian Ministry of Defence radars also detected aerial targets in the area, prompting the Romanian Air Force to scramble fighter jets on two separate occasions.”
The Romanian prime minister emphasized that he remains in continuous coordination with national defense and maritime authorities to protect commercial crews operating in the region.
“I have remained in constant contact with the relevant authorities, with the safety of the sailors our absolute priority,” Niculescu wrote.
“These incidents are unacceptable and constitute a violation of international law. They reflect the deteriorating security situation caused by Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine.”
He added that Bucharest will continue working closely with regional partners and NATO allies to bolster security across the Black Sea basin.
Once again, maritime security in the Black Sea has been threatened. On Saturday evening, 14 November, three commercial vessels were struck by drones near the Danube Delta, off Sulina.
Romanian Ministry of Defence radars also detected aerial targets in the area, prompting the…
Earlier strikes off Romania’s coast
The Saturday evening strikes off Sulina occurred less than 24 hours after an unidentified drone attacked the Palau-flagged commercial cargo ship Larissa 1 inside Romania’s territorial waters overnight into Saturday, Nov. 14, while the vessel was en route to Ukraine.
The strike on Larissa 1 damaged the vessel’s cargo crane without causing crew injuries or a fire on board, prompting an investigation by the Romanian military, Naval Forces, Coast Guard, and Interior Ministry, Defense Minister Ștefan-Radu Oprea confirmed.
In recent weeks, commercial shipping near Romania’s Black Sea coastline has suffered repeated fatal attacks.
On Oct. 23, a drone attack sank the Comoros-flagged cargo ship Khoryv approximately 13 nautical miles (24 kilometers) off the Romanian port of Constanța while en route to Sulina, killing one crew member and leaving three missing among its 13 Ukrainian and Azerbaijani mariners. Romanian President Nicușor Dan blamed Russia directly for that attack.
Earlier in October, the Turkish-owned grain carrier Royad Mammadov caught fire and sank near Romania’s coast, killing two crew members in a strike Ukrainian officials attributed to Russian drones.
The recurring attacks off the Danube Delta highlight the escalating threat to global maritime trade in the Black Sea, which maritime security consultancy Ambrey recently assessed has become the world’s deadliest shipping route this year.
Ambrey has recorded more than 300 maritime attacks across the Black Sea in 2026, resulting in over 30 seafarers killed and more than 20 missing – exceeding mariner fatalities recorded in the Strait of Hormuz and the wider Middle East since fighting between the US and Iran began in late February.
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