The incident followed the detection of two aerial targets entering Romanian airspace at 20:04, prompting the scrambling of Spanish F-18 fighter jets. While one target disappeared over the Black Sea, Ukrainian air defenses destroyed the other near Reni. Although local media reported the Yara J was hit by drones in what would be the first such strike in NATO territorial waters, the Romanian government has not confirmed a connection. Miruță has proposed a joint letter with Bulgaria to NATO calling for a stronger allied presence in the Black Sea.
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
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Romania Denies Drone Hit on Yara J in First Alleged NATO Water Attack
War6 days ago
The Comoros-flagged cargo vessel Yara J is sailing to the Port of Constanța for a technical inspection after a fire broke out near the Sulina canal on Wednesday evening. Interim Defense Minister Radu Miruță stated that Romania’s defense radars detected no drone approaching the ship before it reported the fire at 20:23. The ship's engines remain operational, and the crew, which includes Syrian, Indian, and Iranian nationals, was safely evacuated from the vessel, which was anchored 8 to 10 nautical miles offshore.
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