Merchant vessels targeted by drone strikes in the Black Sea

Recent maritime incidents in the Black Sea have resulted in casualties and the sinking of at least one merchant vessel. On October 5, 2026, the ship 'Royad Mammadov' was struck by what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy identified as two Russian drones in neutral waters, resulting in at least one death and eleven rescues. The vessel was reportedly carrying corn and owned by Türkiye, with a crew comprising Azerbaijani and Indian nationals. In a separate event near the Bulgarian coast, a Togo-flagged cargo ship sank following an attack by air and sea drones, while a second ship carrying grain was also hit.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev described the strike near the town of Byala as a violation of international law, though he noted uncertainty regarding the origin of the drones. While Russia has historically denied targeting civilian infrastructure, reports indicate the Russian Defence Ministry had earlier claimed strikes on two cargo vessels. Search and rescue operations for missing crew members remain ongoing. The incidents have heightened concerns regarding maritime security and potential hybrid warfare operations in the Black Sea region, particularly given the proximity to NATO waters.