Europeupdated 1h ago3 min read
Romania Probes Drone Hit After Yara J Chemical Tanker Catches Fire Near Sulina
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Tanker YARA J, Comoros-flagged, caught fire in Romanian waters off Sulina; crew evacuated. Preliminary information suggests the fire may have been caused by a drone attack; investigation ongoing.
14 outlets told this the same way.
Outlets did split on Azerbaijan Bars Hijab in Schools, Sparking Protests in Baku and Arrests →
Black Sea tanker fire
Romanian authorities said a ship anchored in Romania’s territorial waters caught fire and the crew was evacuated, and Romanian Defence Minister Radu Miruta said it was unclear whether a drone had hit the ship, identified as the Comoros-flagged chemical and oil tanker Yara J. Miruta told the Digi24 television channel, "Whether it was struck by a drone or not, an investigation is currently underway," and he said the incident was "a matter of significant gravity, given that such incidents are occurring in Romanian territorial waters." The Hindu said the commercial ship caught fire late on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, and it said the crew was safe and had evacuated after the Comoros-flagged Yara J was notified by Romania’s naval authority of a fire onboard.
The Hindu also said the ship was anchored about 8 to 10 nautical miles southeast of the Sulina canal, inside Romanian territorial waters, and it added that Miruta said radar systems did not show a drone headed for the ship. The Hindu quoted Romanian President Nicusor Dan saying, "These drone attacks are direct consequences of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and endanger not only shipping in our region but also vital agricultural supplies to other continents."
Bulgaria blames Russia
Bulgaria said Russia was likely behind drone strikes that struck four ships in the Black Sea in the past week, sinking two, while rescuers continued searching for 11 crew members missing after drone strikes on Tuesday. Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Rumen Radev told Parliament, "There is no logic in Ukraine attacking its own ships and crews," and he added, "The problem is that we cannot prove it." AP said Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev summoned the Russian ambassador to Sofia, and it said the ambassador told Radev she did not have any information from the Russian defense ministry but did not rule out the possibility that "these attacks represent a provocation by a third party."
AP said the Guinea-Bissau-flagged cargo ship Dignity sank Tuesday after it was hit by a military strike, and it said four sailors, three Syrian nationals and one Egyptian, were rescued and arrived in the port of Varna. AP also said President Iliana Yotova called for an immediate halt to hostilities in the Black Sea and a moratorium on drone attacks against commercial and civilian infrastructure, and it quoted her saying, "The unprecedented attacks demonstrate that the war has reached the Black Sea and that the conflict is intensifying."
NATO and EU pressure
Ars Technica said suspected Russian drone attacks sank a cargo ship and forced the evacuation of another vessel within two dozen miles of the coast of Bulgaria in the Black Sea on October 13, and it said the latest attacks meant that five ships had been attacked in the exclusive economic zones of NATO member countries. Ars Technica reported that all 15 members of the Ukrainian-owned Chelsea 3 were safely evacuated by Bulgarian rescue operations after the ship was reportedly struck by three aerial drones, and it said authorities were still searching for 11 missing crew members of the Guinea-Bissau-flagged cargo ship Dignity. POLITICO said Black Sea countries sought alliance support and EU leaders discussed how to restore safe passage, and it said insurers and investors were weighing the cost of operating through Ukraine’s ports.
POLITICO quoted Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev saying on X, "The attack within Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone is absolutely unacceptable," and it said the draft conclusions obtained by POLITICO expected leaders to discuss the "immediate restoration of safe passage for grain cargo ships." POLITICO also said NATO member Romania shares a 614-km land border with Ukraine and that Romania and Bulgaria agreed to work closely together to push for stronger counter-drone measures within the EU and NATO, after a call with neighbouring Bulgaria’s president.