One Sailor Killed, 3 Missing After Cargo Ship Sinks 13 Miles From Constanta
Key Facts
The Comorian-flagged cargo ship Khoriv sank about 13 nautical miles east of the city of Constanta, near Romanian territorial waters, after being hit by a drone, the Associated Press reported on October 23, 2026. One person was killed and three crew members remained missing at the time of the report. There were 13 sailors aboard, including 10 Ukrainians and three Azerbaijanis, and nine were rescued. Romanian President Nicusor Dan said the attack was "a new example of the tragic consequences of Russia's aggression against Ukraine." The incident puts the vessel among a series of attacks on cargo ships in the region during October, near the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria.
Rescue figures vary by crew members' nationality: Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry said all three of its citizens had been rescued, adding that one of them, Rovshan Ahmadov, born in 1992, suffered minor injuries and underwent a medical examination. This means nine crew members were rescued according to the AP tally, in addition to the three Azerbaijanis whose rescue Baku confirmed. Romania's Naval Authority kept three other sailors on its missing-persons list and said rescue teams continued searching for them. It said bad weather and poor visibility prevented a helicopter from being sent to take part in the search. The AP report did not identify the person killed in the ship incident.
MarineTraffic data cited by the AP report showed that the Khoriv left Turkey on October 21 and was heading to the Romanian port of Sulina. The site where it sank is east of Constanta, about 13 nautical miles, or 15 miles, from the coastal city. The Sulina Canal links the Danube River to the Black Sea, while Reuters said the ships targeted in the latest attacks had either been anchored near the canal or were heading toward it. Reuters added that the canal had become Ukraine's main export route. The vessel's route therefore forms part of a shipping corridor linking the Danube River to the Black Sea and serving Ukrainian exports.
The sinking of the Khoriv comes amid repeated attacks on commercial shipping in the region during October. The AP said at least seven other cargo ships had been attacked this month off the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria, with those attacks leaving two people dead and 25 missing. In earlier coverage of attacks in the two countries' exclusive economic zones, the AP said the incidents threatened a global shipping route, with two people killed and at least 25 remaining missing. The developments coincided with a report published by EL7 on October 22 about attacks on seven ships in the Black Sea and NATO's announcement that it would strengthen maritime surveillance. These events show that the ship incident took place amid a broader pattern of attacks on commercial vessels near the Romanian and Bulgarian coasts.
Romania's president accused Russia of escalating its attacks on NATO's eastern flank, Reuters reported, while Dan urged Moscow to take peace initiatives and ceasefire proposals seriously and end the war. Dan said the ship had been hit by a drone and condemned the attack as a result of Russia's aggression against Ukraine. As part of maritime surveillance efforts, the alliance said it would send more maritime patrol aircraft, radar systems and drones to the Black Sea. The alliance did not specify which capabilities would be sent. In the immediate term, the Naval Authority said rescue teams were continuing to search for the three missing crew members, with weather conditions and poor visibility still impeding the use of helicopters.