Sybiha Condemns Russian Drone Strike on Turkish-Owned Vessel Carrying Corn

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned Russia’s drone strike on a Turkish-owned cargo vessel carrying corn in the Black Sea, warning that civilian shipping routes urgently need stronger protection. The Royad Mammadov sank in Romania’s exclusive economic zone earlier on Monday, Oct. 5, after a fire broke out on board. President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a statement that two Russian drones had struck the ship, killing its captain, while the fate of another crew member remained unknown.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “Freedom of navigation cannot depend on whether Moscow decides to observe it on one day or another,” Sybiha said in a statement published on the Foreign Ministry’s website. Calls for pressure on Moscow Sybiha warned that attacks on vessels carrying Ukrainian agricultural exports could have devastating consequences for vulnerable communities in Africa, Asia and the Middle East that depend on imported food, potentially leading to acute food insecurity, malnutrition or even famine. He said Ukraine had repeatedly offered concrete steps to make Black Sea navigation safer, but that Russia had responded by widening the reach of its attacks. “This trend will continue until the price of escalation becomes higher than the benefits that Moscow expects to get from it,” Sybiha said, calling for greater pressure on Russia, stronger protection for civilian shipping and accountability for attacks on vessels and their crews. Other Topics of Interest Ukrainian Pilots Could Begin Training on French Rafale Jets Soon, Zelensky Says France is preparing a new defense package for Kyiv, while both countries work on producing French missiles and bombs in Ukraine. His remarks echoed Zelensky’s earlier statement that Russia “consistently chooses terror and the sinking of civilian vessels instead of normal navigation.” Sybiha described the attack as ‘cynical’ The attack, Sybiha said, proves particularly cynical given Turkey’s ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions, advance peace initiatives and ensure security in the region. The country has maintained diplomatic ties with both Moscow and Kyiv, despite being among the countries hit hardest by the escalating war at sea. Since late June, at least 25 Turkish-owned or Turkish-operated merchant vessels have been damaged or caught in the crossfire in the Black Sea. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan repeatedly urged both sides to agree on a mutual moratorium on attacks against commercial ships. In August, Ankara had begun restricting commercial transits through the Dardanelles toward the Black Sea, including routes to Russia’s port of Novorossiysk. Just a month later, Turkey sent a draft memorandum of understanding to Kyiv and Moscow aimed at formally halting strikes on commercial shipping and civilian port infrastructure. “We are trying to reach a conclusion. Frankly, both sides have demands and positions that are difficult to reconcile,” Fidan said on Sept. 20. So far, Moscow has rejected all ceasefire proposals. On Oct. 1, Bloomberg reported that Turkey and the UN had arranged new talks in Russia and Ukraine on a possible Black Sea ceasefire, aiming to bring together separate efforts to protect grain shipments as global food prices climb. According to a senior diplomat cited by the outlet, the meetings are set for early October, with the Swiss-based Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue acting as mediator. Ship sinking in Romania The Royad Mammadov had left Ukraine’s Danube port of Izmail with grain and was heading for Ravenna, Italy, according to Romanian media on Monday morning. The Romanian Interior Ministry said 11 crew members were rescued and two deceased people were identified. Three injured sailors were airlifted for emergency medical treatment, while the remaining eight were taken aboard rescue vessels, Romanian broadcaster Digi24 reported. The ship sank while the rescue operation was still underway. The incident took place about 30 nautical miles south of the coastal village of Sfântu Gheorghe, outside Romania’s territorial waters. The 140-meter vessel sailed under the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis, while shipping records list Turkey-based MG Shipping 5 Co Ltd as its registered owner. Romanian authorities have officially confirmed only a fire on board and have not determined its cause, attributed the incident to Russia or established the origin of any drone involved. Hours before the incident, Romania’s Defense Ministry said its radar had detected an airborne target near the border, east of the Ukrainian town of Vylkove. Two Spanish F-18 fighter jets deployed to Romania for NATO air policing were scrambled, though the ministry said the target did not enter Romanian airspace. Authorities have not linked that incident to the fire on the ship. Russia has not directly commented on the attack, though its Defense Ministry said it had struck two cargo vessels, the BBC reported. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.