MAE retorts after Russians Strike Ukrainian Vessel in Romania’s Black Sea Economic Zone

The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reacted on Friday to Moscow’s latest attack against Ukraine, after a commercial ship was hit by a Russian missile in Romania’s Black Sea exclusive economic zone.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemns the attack by the Russian armed forces against a commercial ship carrying grain in the Black Sea. This event represents an unprecedented escalation of the Russian Federation’s actions in the context of the illegal and unjustified war it launched against Ukraine”, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported on Friday.

According to the MAE, the deliberate attack on a commercial ship represents a serious violation of the norms of international humanitarian law that regulate the conduct of war at sea.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly requests the Russian Federation to stop any attack on commercial ships and to respect the freedom of navigation enjoyed by the states in the Black Sea. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemns the Russian Federation’s violation of the United Nations Charter through the systematic and irresponsible bombing of Ukrainian infrastructure and grain-carrying ships. The actions of the Russian Federation threaten global food security”, said the MAE.

A Russian missile hit a commercial ship carrying grain from Ukraine to Egypt on Thursday in the Black Sea, with no injuries reported, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday.

Romanian authorities have confirmed that the ship was hit by a Russian missile in Romania’s exclusive economic zone. According to the Romanian authorities, the ship notified the Romanian Coast Guard that an explosion had occurred on board and requested a change of route to Constanţa, in order to assess the effects.

“On the night of September 11 to 12 this year, the commander of a civilian ship under a foreign flag, located outside the territorial waters of our country, but in the Exclusive Economic Zone of Romania, approximately 30 nautical miles (approximately 55 km) from the town of Sf Gheorghe, being on the march from Chernomorsk (Ukraine) to Istanbul (Turkey), sent a radio message informing that an explosion had taken place on board the ship. The captain of the ship requested to change the navigation route to Constanţa in order to assess the effects”, the Coast Guard reported on Thursday evening.

According to the British maritime security company Ambrey, the bulk carrier under the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis had left the Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk, was hit by a missile launched by Russia and suffered damage on the port side, including one of the tracks and a crane.

Last year, Russia withdrew from an agreement brokered by Turkey and the UN that had established a corridor on the Black Sea for the safe transport of Ukrainian grain, which could leave from three Black Sea ports. After Moscow withdrew from the agreement, citing that its own requests for the transport of fertilizers and related payments were not satisfied, Ukraine established its own safety corridor for transport, which also passes through Romania’s territorial waters.