Indians aboard Turkish-owned ship hit by Russian drones, two killed in Black Sea

Two people were killed after a Turkish-owned cargo ship carrying Indian and Azerbaijani nationals caught fire and sank in the Black Sea on Monday, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy alleging that the vessel had been struck by two Russian drones.

Romanian authorities said 11 crew members were rescued from the vessel, identified as the Royad Mammadov, after the incident in Romania’s exclusive economic zone. Ukrainian authorities blamed Russia for the incident, but Romania had not independently confirmed the cause of the fire. Russia did not immediately comment specifically on the incident.

Indians were on board

Zelenskyy said Indian and Azerbaijani citizens were among those aboard the civilian vessel when it was hit. He initially said the ship’s captain had been killed, another person’s fate was being established and 11 crew members had been rescued, including one who was injured.

Romanian authorities subsequently confirmed a total of two deaths. Romania’s Naval Authority said three crew members suffered injuries while eight of those rescued were unharmed.

There was no immediate official confirmation identifying the nationalities of the two people killed or specifying how many Indian nationals were among the crew.

The incident occurred about 30 nautical miles, or around 55 km, south of Sfântu Gheorghe in Romania’s Tulcea County. Romanian authorities said the vessel was outside the country’s territorial waters but within its exclusive economic zone.

Ship carrying corn

The 139-metre-long Royad Mammadov was carrying corn and had departed from the Ukrainian port of Izmail. It was travelling towards Ravenna in Italy when the incident occurred.

While the vessel was Turkish-owned, it was sailing under the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Romania’s Coast Guard was alerted at around 11 am local time after a fire was reported aboard the commercial vessel. Rescue teams were mobilised as the situation deteriorated, and helicopters were used to evacuate injured crew members.

Despite the rescue operation, two crew members died. The vessel later sank in the Black Sea.

Zelenskyy blames Russia

Zelenskyy described the incident as a strike by two Russian drones against a civilian vessel in neutral waters. He said Ukraine had repeatedly proposed measures aimed at reducing tensions and improving maritime security in the Black Sea.

The Ukrainian President also linked the incident to concerns over global food security, arguing that attacks on commercial ships transporting agricultural commodities threatened international shipping and food supply chains.

His account attributed the fire and sinking directly to Russian drones. Romanian authorities, however, stopped short of confirming that explanation in their initial statements and reported the incident as a fire aboard the vessel.

That distinction is significant because an investigation into the exact cause of the incident had not been completed.

Rescue operation launched

Romanian maritime authorities mounted a major rescue operation after receiving information about the ship. Rescue vessels were dispatched towards the location, while helicopters were deployed to evacuate crew members requiring medical assistance.

The ship was reported to have been close to an offshore oil platform operated by Romanian energy company OMV Petrom when the incident occurred. The company said the platform continued to operate normally.

The fire eventually overwhelmed the cargo vessel, which sank after the crew had been evacuated.

Black Sea shipping under threat

The incident is the latest indication of the growing dangers faced by civilian shipping in the Black Sea as the Russia-Ukraine war increasingly involves drones, sea mines and attacks around ports and maritime infrastructure.

Romania, a NATO member that shares a long border with Ukraine, has repeatedly confronted spillover risks from the conflict. Russian drones have previously entered Romanian airspace, while sea mines and other explosive objects have been detected in Black Sea waters.

Commercial vessels operating around Ukrainian ports have also faced increasing security risks as both Russia and Ukraine have expanded their use of unmanned systems in the maritime theatre.

The Black Sea remains a crucial route for Ukrainian agricultural exports, including grain and corn, making security around commercial shipping particularly important for countries dependent on those supplies.

Questions over attack

The latest incident is likely to intensify concern over the safety of commercial vessels operating near Ukraine and Romania. Turkey has previously expressed concern over attacks affecting Black Sea shipping and Turkish seafarers as the war has continued.

The presence of Indian nationals aboard the Royad Mammadov also gives the incident a direct Indian dimension. Details about their condition and the exact composition of the crew were not immediately available.

While Ukrainian authorities have squarely blamed Russian drones for the sinking, Romanian authorities have so far confirmed the fire, casualties, rescue operation and sinking without formally attributing responsibility.

The investigation into how the vessel caught fire will therefore be central to establishing the circumstances of the incident and determining whether the sinking was the result of a deliberate military strike on civilian shipping.