Six sailors’ remains found aboard drone-hit tanker
Human remains were recovered from the Wine Trader after the vessel was attacked in Romanian territorial waters. DNA testing has been ordered to establish the victims’ identities.
The remains of six sailors have been found aboard the San Marino-flagged tanker Wine Trader, which was struck by drones in Romanian territorial waters on October 15. The damaged vessel was taken to Varna for repairs in early November.
Radio Svoboda reported the development on Sunday, November 8, citing Bulgaria’s Interior Ministry and Nova television. The Varna District Prosecutor’s Office separately confirmed that badly damaged human remains had been recovered, but did not identify the ship or specify how many bodies were found.
Prosecutors have ordered DNA examinations and opened pretrial proceedings. They also said there were no Bulgarian nationals among the tanker’s crew.
Seven sailors were listed as missing after the Wine Trader attack, while five others were evacuated. The Comoros-flagged Yara J was targeted at about the same time. Romanian President Nicușor Dan described the drone strikes as a consequence of Russia’s war against Ukraine and warned that they endangered shipping and agricultural supply routes.