Two Merchant Ships Hit by Drone Attacks Off Bulgaria, One Sinks
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced that two merchant ships were hit by drone attacks in the Black Sea, with one sinking, and stated his suspicion that Russia was behind the attacks.
Two merchant ships were targeted by drone attacks in the Black Sea off the coast of Bulgaria on Tuesday, resulting in one vessel sinking. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev stated that Russia is suspected of being behind the attacks and that he had summoned the Russian ambassador. Five crew members sustained minor injuries in the incident.
Highlights
- Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev reported that two merchant ships were struck by drone attacks in the Black Sea, with one sinking.
- Radev indicated suspicion that Russia was responsible for the attacks and summoned the Russian ambassador for discussions.
- The sunken vessel was located 31 km east of Krapets, while the other Ukrainian-registered ship was hit by three drones 33 km off the town of Byala.
- Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned the attack, stating it demonstrated Russia's deliberate disregard for civilian lives and maritime security.
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen highlighted that the Black Sea becoming another front of escalation in the Russia-Ukraine war is unacceptable.
Details
According to Prime Minister Radev, the sunken ship went down 17 nautical miles (approximately 31 km) east of Krapets, with one crew member rescued. The other Ukrainian-owned vessel was hit by three drones 18 nautical miles (approximately 33 km) from the town of Byala, and all 15 crew members were rescued. This marks the second wave of attacks on commercial vessels in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone within a week. Last week, two other commercial ships were similarly attacked, with the Alfa Watan sinking and all 10 crew members presumed dead.
Radev convened an emergency security meeting and announced he had summoned Russian envoy Eleonora Mitrofanova. He stated that while there was no conclusive evidence of blame, "the logic suggests that the outcome benefits the Russian Federation." As Bulgaria is a NATO member, Radev is also expected to speak with the NATO Secretary General. Ukraine has directly blamed Russia for the latest attacks, while the Russian military has not yet publicly commented on the issue.
Why it matters
These attacks indicate an escalation of tensions in the Black Sea and pose a serious threat to commercial maritime security. Given that both Ukraine and Russia are major grain exporters, such incidents raise concerns about potential negative impacts on global food security. These events occurring near a NATO member country could also have significant implications for regional and international security.