NATO jets (Image: Getty)
NATO fighter jets were scrambled after a cargo ship was struck by a drone in Romanian territorial waters on Friday evening.
The Larissa cargo vessel was hit approximately 6.8 nautical miles northeast of the village of Sfântu Gheorghe.
The Romanian Ministry of Defence said the strike was reported at 21:40.
The drone is said to have struck a crane of the ship as it was headed to Ukraine.
Snake Island (Image: Getty)
Just hours later, Romania scrambled two fighter jets from its 86th Fetești Air Base on Saturday morning after another aerial attack near Snake Island in the Black Sea.
The Ministry of National Defence in Bucharest did not specify whether the two incidents were related.
Their full statement reads: “During the morning of Saturday, November 14, the radar surveillance system of the Ministry of National Defense detected an aerial target in the area of Snake Island.
“Two F-16 aircraft of the Romanian Air Force, in the Air Police combat service, took off from the 86th Air Base in Fetești.
“The National Military Command Center (core) notified the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations in order to institute measures to alert the population in the eastern area of Tulcea County, and at 04:45 an RO-Alert message was sent.
“Subsequently, at 05:39, a new RO-Alert message was sent for the population in the northern area of Tulcea County.
“The air alert ceased at 05.52.”
NATO FIGHTER JETS SCRAMBLED AS HORROR DRONE ATTACKS HIT SHIPS OFF ROMANIA – BLACK SEA TENSIONS EXPLODE
A terrifying series of drone attacks against commercial vessels near Romania has triggered fresh security fears across Europe, after NATO member Romania scrambled fighter jets to investigate aerial threats over the Black Sea.
The dramatic incidents unfolded amid escalating tensions linked to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, with several commercial ships reportedly struck by drones near one of Europe’s strategically important shipping routes.
Romanian authorities confirmed that three commercial vessels were hit on Saturday, November 14, 2026, while another cargo ship had been struck the previous evening.
The attacks sparked fires aboard several vessels, forcing crews to respond urgently to prevent further damage.
Although no casualties were reported in the latest incidents, the developments have raised serious concerns about the safety of international shipping and the growing risk of the conflict spreading closer to NATO territory.
Three Commercial Ships Hit by Drones
According to Romanian authorities, three commercial vessels were struck by drones near the Sulina Canal, an important shipping route connecting the Danube River with the Black Sea.
The affected vessels included:
- Evia Petrol V: A Greek-flagged oil and chemical tanker.
- Marsol: A bulk carrier flying the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
- Ali Najafov: An oil products tanker also registered in Saint Kitts and Nevis.
The attacks reportedly occurred late on Saturday evening.
Both the Evia Petrol V and Marsol caught fire after being struck. Fortunately, their crews managed to extinguish the flames before the situation became more serious.
Romanian Defence Minister Stefan-Radu Oprea confirmed that there were no reported casualties among the crews.
The incidents nevertheless represent another worrying escalation in attacks against civilian shipping in the Black Sea.
NATO Fighter Jets Scrambled Into Action
The situation became even more concerning when Romanian military radar systems detected an aerial target near Snake Island.
Romanian authorities responded by scrambling two F-16 fighter jets from the 86th Air Base at Fetești.
The aircraft were deployed to investigate the potential aerial threat and monitor the developing situation.
Residents in parts of Tulcea County also received emergency warnings through Romania’s RO-Alert system.
The military response demonstrates how seriously Romanian authorities are treating the growing number of incidents near their coastline.
However, officials have not confirmed that the aerial target detected by radar was directly connected to the attacks on the commercial ships.
The distinction is important: the fighter jets were scrambled in response to an aerial alert, rather than a confirmed attack on Romanian territory.