Five of the 12 crew on the San Marino-flagged Wine Trader were rescued after a drone hit it early on 15 October, and the search resumed on 16 October.
Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov wrote to NATO's secretary general and supreme allied commander, while all 12 crew of the sunk Alfa Watan remain missing.
A NATO military source cited by Die Welt said the drones came from Russia, but Dan told Bloomberg on 16 October that this could not yet be technically established.
Țoiu reportedly put deaths at eight, while local authorities cited by DW said at least 23 seafarers were missing or dead.
The NATO General Assembly on Black Sea security, convened by Mark Rutte, is scheduled for 20 October.
Two chemical tankers were struck by drones within about 12 hours off Romania's Black Sea coast. The Yara J, flying the Comoros flag, was hit on the evening of 14 October inside Romanian territorial waters. Its crew was unhurt, and the ship was towed to the port of Constanța. The Wine Trader, a San Marino-flagged chemical tanker with 12 crew, caught fire after a drone hit it early on 15 October, about one nautical mile outside Romanian territorial waters near the Sulina branch of the Danube. Five crew members were rescued and seven remain missing. Authorities resumed the search on 16 October, with a Black Hawk helicopter due to carry four rescuers to the ship while a boat searches nearby waters. Strong winds and rough seas are hampering the effort.
Bulgaria asked the EU and NATO for technical help investigating drone attacks on two merchant ships in the Black Sea, which DW says happened about a week before its 16 October report. The Alfa Watan, flying the Togo flag, sank within about three minutes, and all 12 crew members are still listed as missing. The Able, flying the Palau flag and carrying grain to Istanbul, caught fire, and all 18 crew members were rescued. A preliminary check found no drone debris aboard the Able, which media reports say has left Bulgarian territorial waters. Prime Minister Rumen Radev said it was still unclear whether the drones came from Russia or Ukraine.
Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said letters had gone to NATO's secretary general and supreme allied commander requesting fighter jets, drone defence systems and additional troops on Bulgarian soil. Bulgaria is waiting for the alliance's decision and plans to meet defence counterparts from Romania and Turkey soon. It also intends to join a NATO drone-defence initiative by the end of October. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky blamed Moscow, saying contacts with Bulgaria had established a combined Russian attack using sea and air drones.
Romanian President Nicușor Dan told Bloomberg on 16 October that the drones' origin could not yet be determined with certainty. He pointed to hundreds of recent cases of foreign drones entering Romanian territory, with recovered parts containing demonstrably Russian components. A day earlier, after talks in Brussels with Radev and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Dan said Russia was trying to destabilise Romania and Bulgaria and weaken support for Ukraine. He argued that the attacked corridor is used by Ukrainians to ship goods toward the Bosphorus, and that no one but Moscow had reason to target it. A NATO military source cited by Die Welt said the drones came from Russia, but Romanian authorities and NATO have not confirmed direct Russian responsibility.
Oana Țoiu, Romania's interim foreign minister, told a press conference on 16 October that the Black Sea is currently one of the most dangerous places for seafarers.
“The Black Sea at this moment is one of the most risky places for a navigator.”
She said a truce in the area is an important goal, but that Russia is blocking it. She added that there were no signs incidents would ease soon.
“At this moment we have no indications to assume they will decrease in the immediate period, unless we manage, through diplomatic effort, to reach a truce.”
Romania co-organised a UN General Assembly session segment with the European Commission, France and Ukraine, which drew more than 30 countries to press Russia for a truce. A NATO General Assembly on Black Sea security, convened by Mark Rutte, is set for 20 October.
At least five other cargo ships were also struck near the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria in the previous ten days. Local authorities cited by DW put at least 23 seafarers missing or dead. Mediafax reported Țoiu saying eight people had died and four commercial ships had been attacked within 24 hours, so the two counts differ and both stand as reported.
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Romania resumed the search for seven missing sailors from a drone-hit tanker, while Bulgaria asked NATO for fighter jets and drone defences after two more merchant ships were struck.
AI text based on reports by The Telegraph, HotNews.ro, Ziare.com and other publishers. Changed .