Drone Strike Sinks Black Sea Ship Near Romania, Killing One; Three Missing

WHO:

ABC News - The crew included 10 Ukrainian citizens and three Azerbaijani citizens.

ABC News - Nine crew members were rescued; one crew member was killed and three were missing.

ABC News - Romanian President Nicusor Dan said the attack showed “the tragic consequences of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.” He urged Russia to take U.S. and European peace initiatives seriously, accept ceasefire proposals, and end the war.

IJR - Rescuers recovered nine crew members alive and one body; three crew members remained missing.

WHAT:

ABC News - A drone hit and sank the cargo vessel Khoryv. The ship caught fire before sinking.

ABC News - Romanian naval authorities said a search-and-rescue mission was underway to find the three missing crew members.

ABC News - At least seven other cargo vessels had been attacked that month off the Black Sea coasts of Romania and Bulgaria; those attacks left two people dead and 25 missing.

ABC News - Romania’s Interior Ministry released video showing only the ship’s hull above the surface in rough seas.

ABC News - Romanian pilots on air-policing duties shot down two drones in Romania’s territorial waters over the Black Sea.

IJR - The Khoryv sent a distress call before sinking; reports said its crew reported a drone attack.

WHERE:

ABC News - The ship sank about 13 nautical miles (15 miles) east of Constanta, near Romania’s territorial waters in the Black Sea.

ABC News - The naval authority identified the ship as the Comoros-flagged Khoryv.

IJR - The ship sank off Romania’s Black Sea coast.

WHEN:

ABC News - The ship departed Turkey on Oct. 21 and was headed for Romania’s Sulina port.

WHY:

ABC News - Romanian naval authorities said unfavorable weather and low visibility prevented the deployment of a helicopter during the search.

HOW:

ABC News - Rescue teams continued searching for the three missing crew members; a helicopter could not be deployed because of weather and visibility conditions.

IJR - The vessel capsized and sank after its crew reportedly reported a drone attack.

(UPDATED October 23, 2026 14:24 UTC)

A drone struck the Comoros-flagged cargo ship Khoryv in the Black Sea, setting it on fire before it capsized and sank off Romania’s coast. The vessel sent a distress call, and its crew reportedly said it had been attacked. Nine crew members were rescued, one was killed, and three remained missing as Romanian naval authorities continued the search. The crew included 10 Ukrainian citizens and three Azerbaijani citizens. The ship went down about 13 nautical miles east of Constanta, while traveling from Turkey toward Romania’s Sulina port. Rough seas and low visibility prevented rescuers from deploying a helicopter. Romanian pilots also shot down two drones in the country’s territorial waters. President Nicusor Dan said the attack showed the tragic consequences of Russia’s aggression and urged Moscow to accept ceasefire proposals and pursue peace.