Russian drones struck and sank the Turkish-owned grain ship Royad Mammadov in the Black Sea on Monday, killing the ship's captain and leaving a second crew member dead, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said. The vessel was carrying corn from Ukraine to Italy when it caught fire and sank in waters off Romania's coast.
What Happened to the Royad Mammadov
Zelensky said two Russian drones hit the civilian vessel in neutral waters. "A horrific strike by two Russian drones on a civilian vessel in neutral waters carrying corn and owned by Türkiye," he wrote on X, adding that Azerbaijani and Indian citizens were among the crew.
The ship caught fire and sank about 30 nautical miles south of Sfantu Gheorghe, within Romania's exclusive economic zone. It had been sailing from the Ukrainian port of Izmail toward Ravenna, Italy, laden with corn. The 139-meter general cargo vessel, built in 2006, sails under the flag of St. Kitts and Nevis and is owned by Istanbul-based Spring Marine and operated by MG Shipping, according to shipping records.
Romania's Coast Guard was alerted around 11:00 local time on Monday, and rescue ships and an Interior Ministry helicopter joined a search-and-rescue operation. Injured crew members were winched aboard the helicopter for emergency treatment.
Deaths and Rescues: The Casualties
Zelensky confirmed the ship's captain was killed and said the fate of one other crew member was still being established, with 11 crew members rescued, one of them injured. Romanian authorities later confirmed two dead in total. Romanian Naval Authority spokesperson Irina Puscasu told AFP that three of the rescued crew were injured and eight were in good condition.
The Indian Embassy in Romania confirmed that three Indian nationals were aboard — all of them safe, with one injured and receiving treatment in Romania. Azerbaijani citizens were also among the crew. The ship is named after an Azerbaijani serviceman killed in the 2020 Karabakh war.
Zelensky Blames Russia; Romania Stays Silent on the Cause
Romanian authorities have not confirmed the cause of the fire, and the country's Defense Ministry did not respond when asked by AFP whether a drone was involved. Russia had no immediate comment on Zelensky's accusation, though an earlier daily bulletin from the Russian Defense Ministry said Russia had struck two cargo vessels.
Zelensky accused Russia of "consistently" choosing "terror and sinking civilian vessels instead of normal maritime navigation" and urged international pressure to restore global food security and safe navigation in the Black Sea. The attack comes as Türkiye and the UN seek to broker Black Sea ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine.
Maritime risk firm Ambrey reported last month that war-related objects found in the Black Sea, including drones and unexploded ordnance, had more than doubled in six months — with the increase concentrated in Romanian, Bulgarian and Turkish waters.
Takeaway
The sinking of the Royad Mammadov marks a sharp escalation in the war's spillover onto civilian shipping in the Black Sea, one of the world's key grain corridors. With two crew dead and neutral waters no longer safe, pressure is mounting for international action to secure the sea lanes that carry Ukraine's harvest to the world.
Watch: What Happened to the Royad Mammadov? Ship Sinks in Black Sea Near Romania — an APT news video report on the drone-strike sinking, the rescue operation in Constanta, and Ukraine's blame on Russian drones.
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