Russians strike civilian vessels in the Black Sea: the world is urged to impose tougher sanctions

The northwestern part of the Black Sea is turning into a dangerous zone for civilian mariners. In early October several merchant ships were attacked near the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria. Crew members have died, and some vessels have sunk.

Which vessels were attacked in the Black Sea 5 In October the Turkish ship Royad Mammadov was sailing from the Ukrainian port of Izmail to Italy with a cargo of corn. Near Romania’s maritime borders a fire broke out on board after a strike by the Russian Federation. According to available information, there are fatalities among the crew. 6 In October, roughly 70 nautical miles off the Bulgarian town of Byala, two vessels were attacked — the Alfa Watan under the flag of Togo and the Able under the flag of Palau. The first ship sank. All ten crew members — nine Syrian nationals and one Egyptian national — were killed. The second ship was damaged, and all 18 seafarers were evacuated. Read also: Bulgaria will not invoke NATO articles 4 and 5 over the Black Sea ship attacks Another incident occurred on the night of 13 October. About 18 nautical miles off the Bulgarian coast, three drones attacked the Chelsea 3 under the flag of Malta, which is owned by a Ukrainian owner. The strikes hit the deck and hull. There were 15 people on board — seven Ukrainians and eight Azerbaijani nationals. All crew members were rescued; five received medical assistance. According to available information, there were no serious injuries. That same day another ship sank off the Bulgarian coast. Only one crew member was rescued. For Serhiy Hursky the incident with the Chelsea 3 has special significance: the vessel was built at the Kherson Shipbuilding Plant from Ukrainian steel. He personally took part in its construction. "For me personally Chelsea 3 is not just another line in the chronicle. It is one of the first ships in whose construction I personally took part. So it is painful to know that what the Kherson shipbuilders created is being struck by Russia," the expert said. According to him, the ship was supposed to carry cargo and provide jobs for people, but instead it became the target of a night attack far from shore. "When you know every meter of the deck and hull, the words ‘strike to the deck and hull’ sound like a personal loss. This ship was meant to carry cargo and give people work. Instead it became a target in the middle of the night, far from shore," Hursky said. What response the situation requires Attacks on merchant vessels near Romania and Bulgaria create threats to international civilian shipping. Bulgarian authorities called these incidents unacceptable, and the European Union urged Russia to stop attacking commercial ships. Hursky believes the international response must be firmer, and the circumstances of the attacks should be investigated jointly by Ukraine, Romania, and Bulgaria. "Russia is striking civilian targets because it cannot confront NATO fleets. Sofia’s and Bucharest’s cautious responses, without directly naming the culprit, only confirm its impunity," he said. Read also: The Baltic states demand that the EU block transit of grain from Russia Among the necessary steps the expert named strengthening international requirements on vessels’ technical condition and insurance through the International Maritime Organization (IMO). In his view, this could also increase pressure on Russia’s so‑called shadow fleet. In addition, Hursky considers an open international discussion about Russia’s role in the IMO necessary. He is convinced that without coordinated actions by the international community the threats to civilian mariners in the Black Sea will grow, and attacks could become an ever greater risk to shipping near NATO countries.

Recall that after Russian strikes on civilian vessels Bulgaria summoned the Russian ambassador for talks, and Ukraine urged international partners to increase sanctions pressure on Russia.