Drones Sink Cargo Ships Near NATO Countries in Black Sea, Two Vessels Lost
Two cargo ships have been sunk and one set ablaze by drone attacks in the exclusive economic zones of NATO member countries, resulting in at least two sailor deaths.
Drone attacks on cargo ships in the Black Sea, specifically within the exclusive economic zones of NATO member states, mark a significant escalation. Recent incidents have seen two cargo vessels sunk and another set on fire, leading to the deaths of at least two sailors and leaving others missing.
In incidents off the coast of Bulgaria, the Togo-flagged cargo ship "Alfa Watan" sank, while the Palau-flagged "Able" was set ablaze after being struck by multiple sea and aerial drones. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev condemned these events as "an unacceptable attack in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone" and "a blatant violation of international law and maritime law."
Highlights
- On October 6, two cargo ships were targeted by drone attacks off Bulgaria: the "Alfa Watan" sank, and the "Able" caught fire.
- The day before, on October 5, the Turkish-owned "Royad Mammadov" sank in Romania's exclusive economic zone after a drone strike, killing two crew members.
- EU President Ursula von der Leyen called the attacks "unacceptable," while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attributed them to a "Russian combined attack using both sea and aerial drones."
- These incidents highlight increasing threats to Black Sea commercial shipping amid the Russia-Ukraine war and allegations of "hybrid warfare" across Europe.
Details
The fate of the crew of the "Alfa Watan" remains unknown after its sinking. However, a Bulgarian ferry successfully evacuated the 18 crew members from the "Able," with two severely injured mariners airlifted to a hospital in Varna. These attacks followed a similar incident on October 5, when the Turkish-owned cargo ship "Royad Mammadov" was struck by drones in Romania's exclusive economic zone. That vessel sank, 11 crew members were rescued, two died, and one remains missing. The "Royad Mammadov" had been carrying corn loaded in the Ukrainian port of Ismail.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy stated that a joint investigation with the Bulgarian navy found the latest strikes to be a "Russian combined attack using both sea and aerial drones." Russia has denied such accusations. These incidents also align with a pattern of alleged Russian "hybrid warfare" tactics, including acts of sabotage, across Europe.
Why it matters
These drone attacks underscore the escalating threats posed by the Russia-Ukraine war to commercial shipping in the Black Sea and the security of NATO member states. While unmanned systems have increasingly defined modern naval warfare, the targeting of civilian vessels represents an unacceptable escalation. It is crucial for NATO countries to establish a unified strategy to deter such acts of sabotage and provocative incidents, which is vital for regional security.