Recent drone and unmanned vessel strikes have targeted multiple merchant ships in the Black Sea, including incidents off Romania and Bulgaria in early to mid-October 2026 that sank vessels such as the Royad Mammadov and HS Dignity while damaging others like the Aframax Rio and Chelsea-3. These attacks, which killed at least two seafarers and left others missing, occurred in exclusive economic zones of NATO members and followed Russian claims of striking cargo ships supplying Ukrainian ports. Bulgaria summoned the Russian ambassador, noting the outcomes benefit Moscow, while Russia has rejected proposals for a Black Sea maritime truce or security corridors tied to broader demands. Ongoing Russian strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure and grain export routes continue to heighten risks to commercial shipping, with traders monitoring further escalation signals in the region.