Von der Leyen and Nicușor Dan commented on the information about the attack on the vessel with Azerbaijani citizens

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that she is "deeply concerned by yet another escalation by Russia in the Black Sea."

As reported by BAKU.WS with reference to Oxu.Az, she wrote about this on the social network X.

"These reckless attacks target innocent people and are an open challenge to international law," von der Leyen emphasized.

She also expressed condolences to the family of the deceased sailor and noted that her thoughts are with the loved ones of the three crew members who are still listed as missing.

The head of the European Commission thanked the rescue teams that continue their search.

Romanian President Nicușor Dan, in turn, claims that the cause of the vessel's accident in the Black Sea was a drone strike.

"This morning a security incident occurred. The vessel was struck by a drone 13 miles into the Black Sea, slightly beyond Romania's territorial waters," the Agerpres agency quotes him as saying.

Earlier, the Romanian Naval Authority (ANR) reported that it was conducting a search and rescue operation after the vessel Khoryv, with a crew of 10 Ukrainians and 3 Azerbaijanis, sent a distress signal. Romanian rescuers found nine uninjured sailors and one deceased, while the search for the three other crew members continues.

According to Romanian media, the vessel Khoryv was sailing under the flag of the Comoros Islands from the Turkish port of Ereğli to the Romanian port of Sulina.