Romania blamed Russia for a drone strike that sank the cargo ship Khoryv about 13 nautical miles off Constanta. One crew member was killed and three were left missing.
The strike was reported six days before President Vladimir Putin, at a Kremlin press conference, said Russia does not want war with Europe but is ready, and warned that the Baltic could go the way of the Strait of Hormuz. At least seven merchant ships were hit off Romania and Bulgaria over two weeks.
Romania’s prime minister called the attack "a flagrant violation of international law." Russia has denied responsibility for earlier drone attacks in the region.