Seven merchant vessels struck by drones in October alone

Smoke rises from the cargo ship Nadezhda after a drone strike near the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk on Tuesday. [Reuters]
Smoke rises from the cargo ship Nadezhda after a drone strike near the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk on Tuesday. [Reuters]

The head of the European Union is set to visit Bulgaria and Romania next week as drone strikes on vessels navigating the Black Sea continue.

Politico Europe reported Friday, citing European Commission officials, that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will stop in Romania and Bulgaria before heading to Antalya, Turkey, for the opening of the 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) on Monday (local time).

Seven merchant ships were struck by drones last month in Black Sea waters near Romania and Bulgaria, killing two crew members and leaving at least 25 others missing.

Romania has blamed Russia for the repeated attacks on merchant vessels, arguing that the series of recent strikes shows an escalating Russian offensive targeting Ukraine. Bulgaria, governed by pro-Russian Prime Minister Radev, has said only that the drones came "from the east."

According to Politico, an anonymous European Commission official said "the Black Sea has now become the most dangerous maritime shipping route in the world," suggesting that von der Leyen's visit reflects a genuine security crisis stemming from the war in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on Western allies for concrete security guarantees to deter a potential Russian reinvasion after the war ends.


hyuk@heraldcorp.com