Black Sea drone strikes
Three commercial ships sustained drone strikes in the Black Sea near Romania’s Sulina canal late on Saturday, November 14, according to Rumānijas premjerministrs Lukas Nikolesku.
The Romanian armed forces scrambled fighter jets twice, Romanian Prime Minister Lucas Nicolescu announced on Sunday, November 15. The ship crews managed to contain the fires that broke out on the ships and there were no casualties.
Romanian officials have not blamed anyone for the attack, but have indicated that the incident is related to the war in Ukraine.
Shadow fleet interception
European Union foreign policy chief Kaia Kallas revealed on Sunday that on November 13, European naval forces boarded a crude oil tanker in the Mediterranean that was sailing under a false flag and believed to belong to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet.
“Brussels will continue to disrupt the activities of the Russian shadow fleet both at sea and through diplomatic means,” Kallas said.
On Monday, the bloc’s foreign ministers plan to approve a new list of sanctions against Russia, which includes banks, buyers and companies that provide support to the so-called shadow fleet.
Frequently asked questions
Which ships were struck near the Sulina canal?
Romanian officials and the statement did not specify the names of the three specific merchant ships that were attacked by drones near the Sulina Canal on November 14.
What measures will the European Union take against the shadow fleet?
European Union foreign ministers planned to approve new sanctions against Russia on Monday targeting banks, buyers and companies that provide support to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, following the seizure of a tanker in the Mediterranean on November 13.
Were there any injuries reported during the Black Sea drone attacks?
The crews of the ships managed to put out the fires that broke out on the ships, and Romanian officials confirmed that there were no human casualties during the events of November 14.