Off Constanța, Romania, 23 Oct 2026

At about 10:00 on 23 October the cargo ship Khoryv sent a distress signal about 13 nautical miles off Constanța, capsized and sank near Romanian territorial waters. A passing merchant ship picked up survivors. One Ukrainian sailor was killed; four Ukrainians were hospitalised, among them the captain; later the same day three Ukrainian crew were reported missing. The ship flew the flag of the Comoros (Romania's President; Ukraine's foreign ministry); Romanian and Ukrainian accounts differ on the number aboard (13 or 14); both are shown. Romania's President said the ship was "struck by a drone" and blamed Russia's escalation.

Sinking of a civilian ship, one sailor killed — established Russian responsibility — position (Romania)

Russia said. Nothing on the Khoryv. A day earlier its Ministry of Defence listed "sea vessels used in the interests of the Armed Forces of Ukraine" among its targets.

Evidence held: Ukraine's foreign ministry and embassy in Romania (23 Oct); Romanian Presidency, Government and Interior Ministry (23 Oct, via media); Russian MoD statement of 22 Oct (Interfax). Raised for the Security Council debate on maritime security, 29 Oct.

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