Drone strike off Constanta: Bulgarian sailors rescue nine people from the sea
The freighter Khoryv capsized after an explosion 13 nautical miles off Romania. One sailor died and three are missing. Bulgarians were first on the scene.
Symbolic image · Photo: Mehlauge / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped and resized)
Bulgarian sailors rescued nine crew members after a suspected drone strike on the freighter Khoryv in the Black Sea. The Norwegian supply vessel Sartor, with Bulgarian sailors on board, was the first to reach the site about 13 nautical miles east of the Romanian port of Constanta, Bulgarian National Television reported; a lifeboat crewed by Bulgarians picked up the survivors.
The Comoros-flagged Khoryv was sailing from Turkey to Sulina when its crew reported a drone-caused explosion at around 10 a.m. The ship caught fire and capsized. Of its 13 sailors, 10 Ukrainians and three Azerbaijanis according to Romanian authorities, one was killed and three are missing. Heavy rain kept a rescue helicopter grounded.
BNT said it was the 11th similar attack in two weeks. Romanian President Nicusor Dan blamed Russia for the escalation. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev intends to wait, according to Boulevard Bulgaria, for expert reports before naming those responsible.
Sources
- BNT: Български моряци първи са пристигнали до поразения край Констанца кораб, 23.10.2026
- BNT: Отново потопен кораб в Черно море: Един загинал и трима в неизвестност, 23.10.2026
- Euronews Bulgaria: Корабът „Хорив“ потъва край Констанца след удар с дрон, 23.10.2026
- Булевард България: Български моряци са спасили деветима души от поразения кораб KHORYV, 23.10.2026