Drones hit two tankers off Sulina; Romanian F-16s down two Geran drones (14–17 Oct)

On the evening of 14 October 2026 the Comoros-flagged tanker Yara J caught fire after a drone strike 8–10 nautical miles southeast of Sulina, inside Romanian territorial waters, and at about 07:00 on 15 October the San Marino-flagged chemical tanker Wine Trader was hit about 13 nautical miles southeast of Sulina in Romania's exclusive economic zone; five of its 12 crew were rescued and seven were reported missing. On 17 October two Romanian F-16s shot down two jet-powered Geran-family attack drones over Romanian territorial waters southeast and east of Sulina, at 18:01 and 18:05. The strikes followed the 5 October sinking of the Turkish-owned grain carrier Royad Mammadov about 20 miles off the Romanian coast in the EEZ, with two dead and 11 rescued; Ukraine said two Russian drones hit it, while Romanian authorities did not state a cause.

Established by. Acting FM Oana Țoiu (X, 15 October 2026, via AGERPRES): "These are callous and murderous attacks against civilians" and "Russia bears full responsibility for these developments"; she cited "an increasing number of Russian Shahed and other types of air and maritime drones entering our space" but did not say that the drones which hit the tankers were Russian. President Nicușor Dan, Brussels, 15 October: "Evident că sunt nişte încercări ale Rusiei" ("Obviously these are attempts by Russia"); he was also reported as saying it was too early to say definitively that Russia launched the drones. MApN Press Release No. 216 identifies the 17 October targets as "Geran-family attack drones" without naming Russia. No Romanian, NATO or EU text found formally attributes the tanker strikes to Russia.

Latest. On 20 October 2026 NATO ambassadors discussed Black Sea security, and NATO spokesperson Allison Hart said the Alliance would send "additional assets"; SHAPE spokesperson Col. Martin O'Donnell said Allies "have or will send additional maritime patrol aircraft, radar systems, explosive exploitation teams", as well as intelligence personnel and drones (AFP). NATO, Romania and Bulgaria have not formally named Russia; EU High Representative Kaja Kallas called "six attacks in 10 days by suspected Russian drones" "a dangerous and unacceptable escalation". A CSAT meeting on Black Sea security is reportedly planned for 22 October (Mediafax, citing sources).

Link to the war against Ukraine. The strikes hit ships using the Sulina approach and nearby waters, a key route for Ukraine's Danube ports, during a wave of drone attacks on Ukraine-linked Black Sea shipping.