Russian drone strike sinks Turkish grain ship in Black Sea, killing 2

A Russian drone strike sank a Turkish-owned grain ship in the Black Sea, killing two crew members and injuring three others, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who blamed Russia for the attack on the civilian vessel in neutral waters. The 139-meter Royad Mammadov caught fire and sank about 30 nautical miles south of Romania's Sfantu Gheorghe port, with Romanian authorities confirming 11 crew members were rescued by helicopter. The ship was carrying corn, and its captain was among the deceased, with Azerbaijani and Indian nationals on board. The incident highlights escalating Black Sea risks, as Turkey reported 226 civilian vessels attacked since the war began, and maritime experts noted a doubling of war-related objects in the sea over six months, including live ordnance and drones.