Russian drones are suspected of sinking a cargo ship and igniting chemical tankers near the coasts of Bulgaria and Romania, marking the first time such attacks have entered a NATO country's territorial waters. If Russian involvement is confirmed in the chemical tanker incidents, the strikes extend beyond exclusive economic zones into Romanian sovereign territory.
According to Deutsche Welle, two chemical tankers were set on fire between October 14 and October 15 after Russian drones were detected in Romanian airspace. Reuters reported that both vessels were anchored near the mouth of the Sulina canal, a critical shipping export route for Ukraine connecting the Black Sea to the Danube River. These incidents follow a series of attacks that have damaged at least seven ships in the exclusive economic zones of NATO member states.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated on October 15 that the alliance had increased counter-drone capabilities along its eastern flank. Rutte made this announcement following meetings with the leaders of Bulgaria and Romania, responding to requests for enhanced protection against drone threats. The escalation highlights growing security concerns regarding maritime infrastructure in the region, with the alliance moving to deploy additional defensive systems in response to the confirmed and suspected attacks.