NATO increases Black Sea patrols after deadly Russian strikes on shipping

NATO is deploying additional surveillance and reconnaissance assets to the Black Sea after a sharp escalation in Russian strikes on commercial vessels near allied waters.

The defensive alliance decided on the move during a meeting of the North Atlantic Council, bringing extra maritime patrol planes, drones, radar networks and intelligence staff to the region.

"NATO has already strengthened our posture along the eastern flank, including with counter-drone capabilities," alliance spokesperson Allison Hart said. "NATO will be sending additional assets to the region, including support for surveillance, reconnaissance, and forensics."

Escalating attacks on merchant vessels

The decision follows an intense wave of strikes targeting commercial sea routes. Russia's defence ministry said on Tuesday that its forces hit three cargo ships in Ukraine's Danube port of Reni and two others sailing towards Odesa.

Over the past fortnight, at least five other cargo ships have been struck near the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria, leaving 23 civilian mariners dead or missing. Most of those strikes occurred just outside NATO territorial waters. Last week, two chemical tankers anchored near the Sulina canal, a vital grain and cargo artery linking the Danube to the Black Sea, were also hit by drones.

The London shipping insurance market now classifies the entire Black Sea as a high-risk zone, excluding only the territorial waters of Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey.

Rising pressure on NATO borders

Allied nations bordering the sea have faced growing spillover from the conflict.

Over the weekend, Romanian fighter jets shot down two suspected Russian drones inside domestic airspace. Romanian Defence Minister Radu Miruță said the craft were flying at roughly 450 km/h and appeared to be Geran-4 models fitted with turboprop engines, marking the first time the country had brought down that specific variant.

Romania had logged nine unauthorised incursions across all of 2025 without shooting down a drone, compared to 35 incursions and six intercepts recorded so far this year.

France deployed a maritime reconnaissance aircraft to Romania on 18 October to help track activity along the maritime corridor.

Risk analysts at maritime intelligence firm Ambrey estimate that Russian forces are responsible for roughly 80% of strikes on commercial ships in the basin since a July surge. Analysts noted that attackers have frequently deployed coordinated "double tap" strikes using aerial drones alongside explosive surface vessels carrying payloads of up to 500 kilograms, quickly sinking smaller river and canal freighters.