Ukraine Drone Attacks Hit Russian Vessels and Romanian Coast

A series of drone operations in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov resulted in casualties and diplomatic tension. In the Taganrog Bay, a drone attack targeted four vessels, including a methanol tanker, killing one sailor aboard a technical support vessel. While Governor Yury Slyusar confirmed the death and the targeting of four ships, the Ukrainian military claimed a wider operation that hit 21 Russian tankers, four tugs, two cargo vessels, and a dredger to disrupt military fuel supplies. Russian authorities reported destroying more than 15 drones in the bay and 178 drones across multiple regions overnight.

Simultaneously, Romanian authorities neutralized five maritime drones in the Black Sea. Acting Defence Minister Radu Miruță stated that some of these vessels carried explosives. The operations followed a June 5 incident where a stray Ukrainian naval drone detonated in the port of Constanța. Ukraine attributed that event to Russian electronic warfare causing navigation loss. In response, Romania has requested that Ukraine implement automatic self-destruct mechanisms on unmanned surface vessels to trigger detonation if connection is lost within 12 nautical miles of the Romanian coast.