Ukraine strikes cargo ships, admits Romania drone blast

Ukraine also admitted that one of its naval drones exploded off Romania’s coast in Constanta on Friday, after being knocked off course by Russian electronic interference.

Ukraine announced that its forces had struck five vessels in the Sea of Azov and in waters around Russian‑occupied territories, accusing them of transporting stolen grain, military cargo and fuel. Drone commander Robert Brovdi said the ships had their names painted over and radars switched off to conceal their activities. Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry later confirmed five of its citizens were killed in attacks on two of the vessels, though it did not attribute responsibility.

The strikes came as President Volodymyr Zelensky renewed his offer of direct talks with Vladimir Putin to end the war, an overture the Russian leader rejected during an economic forum in St Petersburg. Zelensky argued that Russians were weary of drone and missile attacks, fuel shortages and rising prices, insisting peace could only come through direct engagement.

Ukraine also admitted that one of its naval drones exploded off Romania’s coast in Constanta on Friday, after being knocked off course by Russian electronic interference. No injuries were reported, but Romanian officials described it as the second major security incident in a week, following the discovery of a stray mine near Vama Veche. The blast came days after a drone strike damaged an apartment block in Galati, which Romanian authorities blamed on Russia.

Meanwhile, fighting inside Ukraine continued. At least 13 people were killed and more than 70 injured in the past day, including four workers at a dairy factory near Kyiv and a woman at a petrol station in Kherson. Israeli‑style drone and artillery attacks also hit Nabatieh province and Tyre in Lebanon, underscoring the fragile state of ceasefires across the region.

Putin reiterated that he saw no reason to meet Zelensky, maintaining that Ukraine must withdraw from four occupied regions and abandon its NATO ambitions. Kyiv has ruled out ceding territory, warning it would embolden Moscow to invade again. Western allies including the EU, France and the United States have backed Zelensky’s call for negotiations, but the Kremlin insists compromises are essential.

The war, now in its fifth year, continues to disrupt global energy flows. Oil prices fell about three percent on hopes that the Lebanon ceasefire could open a diplomatic path, though Iranian exports remain at their lowest in six years. With the Strait of Hormuz largely closed, the conflict’s economic toll is mounting even as both sides test the limits of military escalation.