Russians hit grain carrier in Black Sea in Romania's economic zone – media

The UK broadcaster BBC, citing Nick Thorpe, its correspondent in the region, reported that the Romanian coastguard confirmed that a Russian missile hit the Aya ship with a cargo of grain en route from Ukraine to Egypt on the night of 11-12 November in the country's economic zone. Source: BBC; Reuters Details: It is reported that at around 23:00 local time on Wednesday, while in Romania's exclusive economic zone, about 55 km from the Romanian port of Sfantu Gheorghe in the Danube Delta, the vessel reported an explosion on board to the local coastguard post.

The vessel maintained its course and managed to reach the major Port of Constanta.

As reported by Reuters, the UK-based maritime security company Ambrey said that the Saint Kitts and Nevis-flagged bulk carrier was hit by a missile launched from Russia after leaving the Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk in Odesa Oblast. The vessel sustained damage to the port side, including the cargo hold and crane, the report said.

Tracking data showed that the vessel's last location was off the Romanian Port of Constanta. A source in the industry told Reuters that the strike occurred near the mouth of the Danube River.

Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk told Reuters that the vessel was in Romania's maritime economic zone. The Romanian Navy said the vessel was not in its territorial waters and that it had not received any requests for assistance. The BBC recalled that Romania is a NATO member, but the alliance's collective defence guarantees apply only to the sovereign territory of its countries.

The exclusive economic zone is not one of them.

Background: On Thursday, 12 September, Russia launched an attack on a civilian cargo ship in the Black Sea transporting wheat for Egypt.

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