The incident occurred during a day of escalating tensions as three Russian drones violated Romanian airspace within 24 hours. Romania scrambled F 16 fighter jets and Spanish F 18s to intercept threats; one drone was shot down by Ukrainian air defenses near Reni and another disappeared from radar over the Black Sea. If confirmed, the attack on the Yara J would be the first drone strike on a vessel inside NATO territorial waters.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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Romanian Navy Cannot Confirm Drone Strike on Ship in NATO Waters
War6 days ago
The Syrian crew of the Comoros flagged cargo ship Yara J was safely evacuated after the vessel caught fire between 8 and 10 nautical miles off the coast of Sulina on Oct 14. The Romanian Naval Authority stated it is unclear if drones caused the blaze and an investigation is pending, contrasting earlier reports that the vessel was struck by a drone while transporting coal to Ukraine. The ship was anchored in the Sulina roadstead, where vessels wait before entering or leaving port, when the fire broke out.
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