// BBC WORLD NEWS — MONDO
Zelensky condemns 'horrific' Russian strike on boat carrying corn in Black Sea
Romainian authorities launched a rescue mission after reports of a vessel on fire outside its territorial waters
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned a "horrific" Russian attack on a vessel carrying corn in the Black Sea.
The ship's captain was killed in the strike involving two drones, Zelensky said, and another sailor was unaccounted for. Eleven crew members - nationals of Azerbaijan and India - have been rescued.
Romania said it had mounted a rescue mission after "a fire on the ship Royad Mammadov" outside the country's territorial waters. It said two people had died.
Russia has not commented, but its defence ministry earlier said it had struck two cargo vessels. Russia has been pounding Ukrainian infrastructure in what it says is retaliation for Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries and ships in the Black Sea.
Monday's attack by Russia targeted "a civilian vessel in neutral waters carrying corn and owned by Turkey", Volodymyr Zelensky said.
He did not give the location of the ship, but Romania's interior ministry said it had sunk about 30 nautical miles south of its port of Sfantu Gheorghe.
"At around 11:00 (09:00 GMT), Coast Guard border police officers were informed that a fire had broken out on board a commercial vessel located within Romania's exclusive economic zone," the ministry said in a statement.
"Eleven crew members have been rescued. Two deceased persons have also been identified," it added.
Ukraine's president said he had "repeatedly proposed concrete steps to de-escalate the situation and ensure security in the Black Sea" - and other countries had made "relevant proposals" too.