Romania is investigating whether the drones that over the past two days attacked two commercial vessels near its territorial waters in the Black Sea belong to Russia. The country’s President Nicușor Dan said such attacks increase security risks for the entire region.
He said this in an interview with Bloomberg TV.
According to Dan, at present the Romanian authorities cannot technically confirm that the drones belonged to Russia. At the same time, he noted that hundreds of aerial drones had crossed Romania’s border from Ukraine via the Danube area, and a significant proportion of them contained Russian components.
The Romanian President believes the attacks are aimed at the sea corridor Ukraine uses to transport grain.
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Romanian services are also continuing the search for seven crew members of a vessel hit by drones on Thursday, 15 October.
Against the backdrop of the attacks, Romania and Bulgaria have asked NATO allies to strengthen air defences and provide additional means to detect and counter drones. Over the past week, five vessels in the Black Sea have come under drone attack, with people killed and wounded.
Nicușor Dan expressed hope that allies would soon provide the necessary defensive capabilities. They are to temporarily bolster Romania’s protection until the country receives the weapons ordered under the European defence investment programme SAFE.
The President also said that Russian attacks would not force Romania and Europe to stop supporting Ukraine.