A Comoros-flagged chemical and oil tanker caught fire while anchored in Romania’s territorial waters, prompting the full evacuation of its crew, according to Romanian authorities. The incident occurred as regional officials investigate whether drones were involved, following a wider surge of security incidents and suspected hybrid attacks across the Black Sea.
Romanian Defence Minister Radu Miruta stated that it remains unconfirmed if a drone struck the vessel, identified as the Yara J, and noted that an official investigation is underway. The event coincides with multiple drones breaching Romanian airspace near the Ukrainian border.
The maritime fire follows several recent escalations in Black Sea waters. On Tuesday, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev reported that two ships were struck in drone attacks off Bulgaria's coast, resulting in one sinking. While explicit evidence pointing to the perpetrators is still being evaluated, regional leaders view these repeated airspace breaches and maritime strikes as severe tests of NATO and European Union defense capabilities.