In brief
A chemical tanker named the Wine Trader went up in flames 13 nautical miles off Romania after a drone strike, leaving seven of its 12 crew members missing. Rescue teams, including Black Hawk helicopters and rescue boats, are battling rough seas to find survivors. The incident follows a string of drone attacks on merchant vessels in the Black Sea, raising NATO and regional security concerns. Romania, Bulgaria and Ukraine are set to discuss invoking Article 4 of the NATO treaty to seek collective defense measures for shipping lanes. The situation highlights growing tensions as Russia and Ukraine exchange blame over attacks on commercial shipping.
Seven of 12 crew members are missing after a drone strike left the chemical tanker Wine Trader ablaze 13 nautical miles east of the River Danube’s mouth, near Sulina, Romania.
The San Marino‑flagged vessel, empty of cargo, reported explosions and a spreading fire at around 07:00 local time. Romanian President Nicușor Dan confirmed that both the Wine Trader and a second tanker, the Yara J, had been hit by drones – the Yara J struck the day before.
Meanwhile, Moscow said that two cargo ships carrying military goods to Ukraine’s Odesa were also hit, though it did not name them. The region has seen a surge of drone attacks on merchant ships this month, with Bulgaria reporting a separate strike that claimed 11 crew members.
Rescue efforts have deployed two Black Hawk helicopters and two rescue boats. A Romanian interior‑ministerial video shows a helicopter hovering over the burning vessel while crews work to secure survivors. Four crew members have been confirmed alive, and search teams are battling rough seas to locate the missing crews.
The incident has spurred discussions among NATO members. Romania, Bulgaria and Ukraine are preparing to invoke Article 4 of the treaty, allowing allies to request consultations over perceived threats to territorial integrity. President Dan will meet NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev in Brussels to outline operational support and protective measures for shipping lanes.
These events unfold against a backdrop of intensified Russian strikes on Black Sea traffic, with Moscow targeting ships carrying weapons and dual‑use goods to Ukrainian ports – accusations that Kyiv and its European allies refute, claiming attacks are aimed at civilian cargo such as grain. Despite calls for a naval ceasefire, Moscow has rejected Western proposals, insisting that Ukrainian forces also pose a threat.
The ongoing volatility underscores the growing risk to commercial shipping in the Black Sea and the urgent need for coordinated defense measures.
