NATO will increase surveillance in the Black Sea following the intensification of Russian attacks on Ukrainian vessels and export routes

NATO will deploy additional maritime surveillance aircraft, radar systems, drones, and teams specialized in investigating explosives in the Black Sea region, in response to the intensification of attacks attributed to Russia against Ukraine’s export routes and commercial vessels.

A spokesperson for NATO’s Military Headquarters, quoted Wednesday by the dpa news agency, announced that the Alliance would also increase intelligence personnel. The measures aim to improve monitoring of the situation through the use of more sensors and expanded information-sharing among member states.

According to the Bulgarian press, an American P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft is already operating off the coast of Bulgaria. Romania requested support from the European Union and NATO after a series of incidents occurred last week near the coastline.

The Ukrainian vessel Chelsea 3 was hit by three drones 33 kilometers off the Bulgarian coast, while another vessel was hit and sank approximately 31 kilometers from shore, near Krapets. At the beginning of the month, a Turkish grain freighter sank near Sfântu Gheorghe, and two crew members died. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attributed the attack to Russian drones.

The EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, warned that the escalation could trigger a new global food crisis, as the attacks are affecting Ukrainian agricultural exports.