Russia is making the Black Sea into a dangerous area for civilian ships, Romania's Foreign Minister Oana Toiu wrote on Thursday, adding that 'the killing of merchant mariners in the region and all over the world is a crime.'

'In its war of aggression against Ukraine, against all provisions of international law, Russia is making the Black Sea into a dangerous area for civilian ships. The killing of merchant mariners in the region and all over the world is a crime. Russia bears full responsibility for these developments,' Toiu wrote in a social media post.

She added that Romania informed its allies and European partners of the latest incidents.

'Investigations are under way and we are closely coordinating with our Allies and partners and we will step up efforts to strengthen NATO's collective ability to respond effectively to such incidents and reinforce its deterrence and defence posture,' she said, adding that they agreed that North Atlantic Council will be convened within days. 'We continue to ask for a ceasefire at the Black Sea to stop the risk on civilian ships and restore safety of navigation on an essential global food trade artery.'

The interim minister also said that Romanian air and naval units of the Coast Guard (GdC/MAI) and Emergency Management Service (IGSU/MAI) are actively engaged in search and rescue operations, searching for the missing members of the crew of the ship that was attacked this morning in Romania's exclusive economic zone at the Black Sea.

'The 5 crew members that were already taken by helicopter to the hospital in Constanta are stable, some receive medical care for burns and smoke inhalation,' she wrote.

Toiu mentioned that over the last 24 hours, four merchant ships were targeted, including in Romanian territorial waters and its economic exclusive zone and eight lives were lost.

'Our condolences to the families that have lost a loved one. These are callous and murderous attacks against civilians. This happens at the same time that we see an increasing number of Russian Shahed and other types of air and maritime drones entering our space, three of them just today. Our military has lifted fighter jets for preventive air policing,' Toiu also wrote. AGERPRES (RO - editing by: Andrea Rotaru; EN - editing by: Corneliu-Aurelian Colceriu)