Black Sea Capsize Leaves One Dead, Three Missing

The Comoros-flagged merchant vessel Khoryv sank Friday about 13 nautical miles off Constanța, Romania, after apparently being struck by a drone. Romanian authorities rescued nine of the 13 crew members, recovered one body and said three sailors remained missing; the crew included 10 Ukrainians and three Azerbaijanis. Adverse weather and poor visibility prevented a helicopter rescue, and search operations continued. President Nicușor Dan described the incident as part of Russia’s escalation of the war in Ukraine, though authorities had not confirmed who was responsible. The sinking adds to a series of reported drone-related incidents involving commercial vessels near Romania and Bulgaria, raising concerns about shipping safety and freedom of navigation.