Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev reported that drones struck two ships in the Black Sea, sinking one and prompting rescue operations. Bulgaria is seeking NATO and EU assistance while investigating the origin of the attacks.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced on Tuesday that drones struck two merchant ships in the Black Sea off the coast of Bulgaria. One vessel sank, while the other was evacuated, prompting emergency rescue operations and calls for international assistance.
According to Radev, the Maltese-flagged cargo ship CHELSEA 3 was hit by three aerial drones approximately 18 nautical miles east of Byala. The distress call was received at 1:30 a.m., and the crew reported that the drones struck the ship's deck and side. A Border Police team evacuated all 15 crew members—seven Ukrainian citizens and eight Azerbaijani citizens—to the port of Varna. Five sailors received medical attention for minor injuries.
A second vessel, identified as the Azov Concord, sank approximately 17 nautical miles east of Krapets after being struck by a drone. One crew member from the sunken vessel was rescued. Radev stated that available information does not yet establish the full crew complement or the fate of other individuals who may have been aboard.
Prime Minister Radev described the attacks as "absolutely unacceptable" and stated that Bulgaria lacks clear evidence to identify who was responsible. However, he indicated that the outcome appeared to benefit Russia. "The logic of what is happening indicates that the result of the attacks is in favor of the Russian Federation," Radev said.
Radev announced plans to speak with Russian Ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Bulgaria’s permanent representatives to NATO and the European Union have been informed of the incidents. The government is seeking international support to determine the origin of the drones and to strengthen surveillance of Bulgarian airspace and maritime areas.
This incident follows a similar drone attack on October 6, which Radev also described as "absolutely unacceptable." In that earlier incident, one merchant ship sank and another was damaged about 130km off the country's coast. An investigation into that attack is still underway.
Col. Ivan Milanov of the International Anti-Drone Association emphasized the need for a comprehensive defense system. "Three main components. First, 2 or 3 miles plus or minus doesn't matter. No bypassing complete system here. There is no effective protection without a comprehensive system," Milanov said. He argued that detection must occur over 100 miles away to allow sufficient response time, given that drones traveling at 300 to 500 km per hour can reach targets in minutes.
The attacks highlight growing security risks to commercial shipping in the Black Sea, a critical corridor for global trade. The incidents have renewed scrutiny of Europe's ability to protect maritime infrastructure, more than a year after the EU launched a strategy to strengthen security in the region. Bulgaria's request for NATO and EU assistance underscores the potential for these maritime incidents to escalate into broader diplomatic tensions.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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