Russian drone strikes using aerial and unmanned surface vessels have intensified across the western Black Sea since early October 2026, targeting multiple commercial ships in the exclusive economic zones of NATO members Bulgaria and Romania. Incidents include the sinking of vessels such as the Alfa Watan, Contship Jet, and others, with at least 30 mariners killed or missing and dozens of additional attacks recorded in October alone. Moscow attributes many strikes to vessels supporting Ukrainian logistics or military activity, while Ukrainian and Western officials describe them as deliberate disruption of grain and container trade routes. This escalation, alongside Ukrainian counter-strikes on Russian naval assets, has prompted expanded NATO patrols, elevated insurance zones, and shipping rerouting, sustaining elevated near-term risk of further strikes on merchant vessels.