Drone hit sinks cargo vessel in Black Sea killing a crew member

A drone hit and sank a cargo vessel in the Black Sea on Friday, killing one crew member and leaving three missing, officials said.

This, in the latest attack on commercial shipping in the region that has caused concerns of Russia's escalation of its war with Ukraine.

Romanian naval authorities said that a search and rescue mission was underway after the ship caught fire and sank about 13 nautical miles east of the port city of Constanta, near Romania's territorial waters.

The crew consisted of 10 Ukrainian citizens and three Azerbaijanis. Nine were rescued.

Romanian President Nicusor Dan said, "this attack is a new example of the tragic consequences of Russia's aggression against Ukraine."

He said "it is time for Russia to take peace initiatives of the United States and Europe seriously, accept the ceasefire proposals and end the war."

At least seven other cargo vessels off the Black Sea coasts of NATO members Romania and Bulgaria in October have been attacked recently, leaving two people dead and 25 missing.

The naval authority identified the ship as the Comoros-flagged Khoryv, which the shipping data website MarineTraffic shows departed Turkey on Oct. 21 and was headed for Romania's Sulina port.