Ukraine Accuses Russia of Black Sea Ship Attack Killing Civilians

Ukraine has accused Russia of attacking a cargo vessel in the Black Sea, following reports of a fire that killed two people on board near Romania's coast. Romanian authorities rescued 11 crew members in a rescue operation involving coast guard ships and a helicopter. The incident occurred around 30 nautical miles south of Sfântul Gheorghe, a town overlooking the Black Sea. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed Russia launched a "horrific strike" with two drones on a civilian vessel in neutral waters, killing the ship's captain and injuring others.

The ship, identified as the Royad Mammadov, was transporting corn and sailing under the flag of St Kitts and Nevis. It had stopped at the Ukrainian port of Izmail in mid-September and was en route to Ravenna, Italy. Romanian officials did not specify the cause of the fire, but Zelensky blamed Russia for the attack, stating that Moscow "consistently chooses terror and sinking civilian vessels instead of normal maritime navigation."

The incident has raised concerns about food security, as Russia and Ukraine have been attacking each other's grain and agricultural sites in the Black Sea region. Experts note that Russia increased strikes on grain-carrying ships around Ukrainian ports throughout summer 2026, while Ukraine bombarded Russia's port city of Novorossiysk in mid-August, disrupting grain exports.