European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has warned that the security situation in the Black Sea is becoming increasingly concerning after a series of incidents involving commercial vessels in the waters off Romania and Bulgaria.
In a post on X on Tuesday, von der Leyen said that commercial ships and their crews were increasingly being targeted, stressing that civilian shipping must not become a target in the war in the region.
“The situation in the Black Sea is increasingly concerning,” von der Leyen wrote. “Commercial ships – and innocent crews – are being targeted, with lives already lost at sea.”
Her statement came after two commercial vessels were hit in Bulgaria’s economic zone in the Black Sea, according to the European Commission president.
The incidents followed the sinking of a Turkish-owned cargo vessel carrying Ukrainian grain off the Romanian coast on Monday.
Two crew members killed after grain ship sinks off Romania
The vessel, identified as the Royad Mammadov, was carrying grain from the Ukrainian port of Izmail towards Italy when it caught fire and subsequently sank in Romania’s exclusive economic zone.
Romanian authorities reported that two crew members died and 11 others were rescued following the incident. The vessel was sailing under the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis and had a crew that included Azerbaijani and Indian nationals.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the ship had been hit by Russian drones. Romanian authorities confirmed the incident and the casualties, but initial official statements did not independently establish responsibility for the attack.
The incident took place outside Romania’s territorial waters, but within the country’s exclusive economic zone, raising further concerns over the potential spillover of the war in Ukraine into vital commercial shipping routes and offshore infrastructure.
The ship was reportedly carrying Ukrainian grain and was bound for Italy. The attack comes amid continuing security concerns surrounding commercial navigation in the Black Sea and the export of Ukrainian agricultural products.
Von der Leyen: Attacks on civilian shipping are unacceptable
In her statement, von der Leyen stressed that the European Union stands behind its eastern member states as security risks in the Black Sea increase.
“Attacks on civilian shipping are unacceptable,” she said.
“We stand in full solidarity with our Member States on the Eastern flank.”
The European Commission president also stressed that the exact circumstances surrounding the latest incidents were still being established.
“While exact circumstances of these incidents are still being established, the developments are very concerning,” von der Leyen said.
The comments come as the Black Sea remains a key maritime corridor for grain exports and regional trade, while the war between Russia and Ukraine continues to create risks for commercial vessels operating in and around the region.
The latest incidents are likely to increase concerns among shipping companies and crews operating routes connecting Ukrainian ports with European and Mediterranean markets.
For Romania and Bulgaria, both EU and NATO member states on the Black Sea, the incidents also underline the growing security challenges facing commercial navigation and critical maritime infrastructure along the eastern flank of the European Union.
The investigation into the latest incidents is ongoing, while authorities continue to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the attacks.
In a post on X on Tuesday, von der Leyen said:
“The situation in the Black Sea is increasingly concerning. Commercial ships – and innocent crews – are being targeted, with lives already lost at sea. Today, two commercial vessels were hit in Bulgaria’s economic zone in Black Sea. This comes just one day after a Turkish ship carrying Ukrainian grain was struck and sunk off the Romanian coast. While exact circumstances of these incidents are still being established, the developments are very concerning. Attacks on civilian shipping are unacceptable. We stand in full solidarity with our Member States on the Eastern flank.”
By MIhai Manea
