Romania resumes search for seven sailors from drone-hit tanker
Romanian authorities restarted the search aboard and around the Wine Trader after weather disrupted earlier efforts. The Yara J, hit in a separate strike, was towed to Constanta with its crew safe.
Balkan Spectator · Automated news desk Published Updated Event / data date: 2026-10-16
Romanian authorities resumed the search on 16 October for seven sailors missing from the Wine Trader, a chemical tanker struck by a drone about one mile outside Romanian territorial waters. A Black Hawk helicopter was to place four rescuers aboard while a vessel searched nearby waters. [1]
Five of the Wine Trader's 12 crew members were rescued. The Yara J, struck inside Romanian waters in a separate attack, was towed to Constanta and its crew was unharmed. [1][2]
ContextPresident Nicusor Dan confirmed that drones hit the vessels. A NATO military source cited by Reuters attributed the drones to Russia, while Romania has not presented that attribution as a completed national finding and has requested additional defensive equipment. [1][2]
Added the resumed Wine Trader search, planned helicopter insertion of rescuers, the Yara J's tow to Constanta and Romania's request for additional defensive equipment.
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Drone strikes hit two tankers near Romania's Black Sea coast
Two chemical tankers were struck near Sulina, leaving seven crew members missing from one vessel. Romania confirmed drones were involved but did not attribute responsibility; a NATO military source blamed Russia.
Two chemical tankers were struck by drones near Sulina. Five of the 12 crew members aboard the San Marino-flagged Wine Trader were rescued and seven remained missing; all crew members aboard the Comoros-flagged Yara J were safe.
President Nicusor Dan confirmed that drones hit the ships but said Romania was still establishing the facts. A NATO military source cited by Reuters attributed the drones to Russia; that attribution was not presented as a Romanian government conclusion.
In the same overnight attack wave, Romanian radars detected drones near Snake Island and one entered Romanian airspace over territorial waters southeast of Sulina for about one minute. Spanish F-18s and Romanian F-16s were launched, and authorities said there were no further incursions before the alert ended.
Romanian fighters destroyed two attack drones that entered national airspace over the Black Sea, the first interception of the high-speed type cited by the defence minister. NATO ambassadors are due to discuss Black Sea defence.
