The attack on the tanker Khoryv in the Black Sea led to one death and three crew members missing. This tanker, flying the Comoros flag, was attacked near Constanta, Romania, on October 23, 2023. Romanian officials stated that the vessel caught fire and sustained serious damage due to a drone attack and ultimately capsized.
Details of the Incident and the Status of the Ship
The tanker Khoryv, with a capacity of 3,280 tons and a length of 119 meters, was passing about 13 nautical miles from Constanta. This ship, which has come under Greek ownership, was en route from Turkey to the Salina Canal in Romania. Reports indicate that this route is being used again as a transport route for Ukraine, especially after Russian attacks in the Black Sea.
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The Romanian Ministry of Interior announced that the ship faced serious damage and fire and ultimately sank. Another commercial vessel in the area managed to rescue nine crew members and find the body of another. According to reports, the crew included 10 Ukrainians and three from Azerbaijan.
Reactions from Romanian Officials and the Dimensions of the Attack
Nicolae Ciucă, the President of Romania, described this attack as another example of the disastrous consequences of Russia's aggression against Ukraine and called on Russia to respond to the peace initiatives of the United States and Europe. Additionally, the new Prime Minister of Romania, who was appointed just a few days ago, deemed this attack unacceptable and a significant violation of international law.
This attack comes at a time when Romanian and Bulgarian officials had previously refrained from identifying the source of these attacks, stating that investigations were needed. This attack has been reported as the seventh attack on a commercial vessel in the area between Bulgaria and Romania in recent weeks, with up to 30 crew members recognized as missing or deceased.
The President of the European Commission also condemned these attacks, calling them a serious threat to innocent lives and a blatant violation of international law. The European Parliament on October 23 overwhelmingly passed a resolution calling for immediate action against these threats. The resolution suggested that the European Union should consider establishing a maritime operation in the Black Sea.
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