Attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea intensify / NATO faces a new security challenge (Reuters)

Attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea, near the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria, have intensified in recent weeks, fueling fears of a new escalation of the war and the testing of NATO’s limits. A Reuters analysis shows that vessels using commercial routes to and from Ukraine are increasingly exposed, including in the exclusive economic zones of the two Alliance member states.

In October, at least nine vessels were hit, damaged, or sunk. One vessel was attacked in Romanian territorial waters, while several incidents occurred near the Sulina Canal, an essential route for Ukrainian exports. The attacks caused casualties, missing crew members, and disruption to the transport of grain, oil, and goods.

Analysts cited by Reuters say the attacks are most likely attributed to Russia, while a naval drone filmed in one of the incidents reportedly resembled a Russian model. Moscow, however, denies targeting Ukraine’s neighboring states and rejects the proposal for a limited maritime ceasefire.

According to Ambrey, 317 vessels were hit in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov between May and October, more than four times as many as in the previous six-month period. NATO considers Russia’s actions a serious threat and announces investments of more than 40 billion dollars in counter-drone systems over the next five years.