Two ships have been hit in a drone attack in the Black Sea off Bulgaria, with one vessel sinking and a Ukrainian-owned cargo ship damaged, according to Bulgarian authorities.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said the Malta-flagged Chelsea 3 was struck by three aerial drones about 18 nautical miles east of Byala. Its 15 crew members – seven Ukrainians and eight Azerbaijanis – were rescued and taken safely to Varna.
Five crew members received medical assistance, but none was seriously injured, Mr Radev said.
A second vessel was hit about 17 nautical miles east of Krapets and sank, with one crew member rescued. No further details were immediately provided about the people aboard.
Investigation sought into Black Sea drone attack
Mr Radev said he intended to summon the Russian ambassador over what he described as “absolutely unacceptable” attacks. He said Bulgaria did not have clear evidence establishing who launched the drones.
“Bulgaria continues to seek support for an investigation into the attacks to determine the country of origin of the drones,” he wrote on social media.
He also called on Nato and the European Union to help strengthen surveillance of the air and maritime areas and improve Bulgaria’s ability to respond.
“We do not have clear and conclusive evidence to attribute responsibility to either side,” Mr Radev said. “However, as I have already stated, the logic suggests that the outcome benefits the Russian Federation.”
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga directly blamed Russia, accusing Moscow of a “deliberate disregard for civilian lives and maritime security in the Black Sea”.
“The Black Sea is a lifeline for global food security. Russia is attacking it to weaponise hunger and hold the world hostage,” he said in a post on X.
Russia did not immediately comment on the incident.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said those responsible must be held accountable, describing attacks on commercial ships and their crews as unacceptable. She said the Black Sea had become another front in the escalation of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The latest incident came a week after two other commercial vessels were struck by drones off Bulgaria. The merchant ship Alfa Watan sank about 70 miles from Byala, while its crew remained missing after rescuers found overturned life rafts and life jackets but no survivors.
The other vessel, the grain carrier Able, was rescued. All 18 crew members – 11 Turkish and seven Indian – survived, although two were injured and taken to hospital in Varna.
Mr Radev said the attacks were a gross violation of international law and warned that continued fighting could widen the conflict’s geographical scope. He said the strikes were disrupting shipping in the Black Sea, increasing insurance costs and making maritime transport more difficult.
Bulgaria is a Nato member and is responsible for search-and-rescue operations in its exclusive economic zone. The latest attacks took place about 140 nautical miles from the Ukrainian coast.
