Black Sea Drone Strikes Raise Maritime Security Fears

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev summoned Russian ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova after two merchant ships were struck by drones off Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast. One vessel sank, leaving 11 crew members missing and one rescued; the other, the Ukrainian-owned and Maltese-flagged Chelsea-3, was hit near Byala. All 15 crew were rescued, although five sustained minor injuries. The incidents follow attacks on two other commercial ships in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone a week earlier. One of those vessels, the Alfa Watan, sank, and its 10 crew members are presumed dead. Radev said there was no conclusive evidence identifying who was responsible for the latest attacks, though he argued that their outcome benefits Russia. Mitrofanova said she had no information from Russia’s defence ministry and suggested a third party could have staged a provocation. Russia’s military has not publicly commented. Ukraine directly accused Russia, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the Black Sea as another front in the escalation of Russia’s war against Ukraine. The ships were struck outside Bulgarian territorial waters. Radev spoke with Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte, who said Nato would work closely with Black Sea allies and continue monitoring and adjusting its security posture. The article notes that an attack only a few nautical miles farther west could have raised the possibility of Nato’s Article 5 collective-defence clause being invoked. Bulgaria has also requested technical help from Nato and the EU to investigate the earlier attacks. The strikes occur amid intensifying attacks on vessels in the Black Sea. Moscow says it targets ships carrying weapons or dual-use cargo to Ukrainian ports; Kyiv and its European allies say civilian merchant vessels carrying grain and other goods are being attacked. Ukraine also struck an oil tanker in the Russian port of Sochi on the day of the earlier attacks. With Russia and Ukraine both major grain exporters, Ukraine’s foreign minister warned that attacks threaten global food security, while Turkey has urged both sides to stop attacking in the Black Sea.

Drones struck two commercial ships in the Black Sea off Bulgaria on Tuesday, sinking one vessel and triggering rescue operations, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said. All 15 crew members aboard the Maltese-flagged Chelsea 3 were evacuated. Five suffered minor injuries, and the crew—seven Ukrainians and eight Azerbaijanis—reported that three aerial drones hit the ship’s deck and hull. The attacks took place 32 and 34 kilometres from Bulgaria’s coast. From the other ship, which Bulgarian media identified as the cargo vessel Azov Concord, five crew members had been rescued while 11 remained missing. The vessel’s Turkey-based manager was not immediately available for comment. Radev called the attacks “absolutely unacceptable” and said Bulgaria was seeking assistance from NATO and the European Union. Bulgarian authorities said they had no clear evidence identifying who was responsible. Radev said, however, that the outcome appeared to benefit Russia. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha directly blamed Russia, arguing that the attacks endangered civilians and maritime security and urging partners to increase pressure, strengthen sanctions and protect freedom of navigation. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also condemned the incidents, describing the Black Sea as another front in the escalation of Russia’s war in Ukraine and calling for those responsible to be held accountable. The strikes followed a series of recent incidents involving commercial vessels in the region. Exactly one week earlier, sea and aerial drones attacked two ships in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone: a Togo-flagged vessel sank, while a Bulgarian ferry evacuated the crew of another ship. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s military had not conducted operations near those earlier strike locations and blamed Russia. A day before Tuesday’s attacks, a Turkish-owned cargo ship carrying corn caught fire after a drone attack off Romania and later sank; two people died and 11 crew members were rescued. Russia had not commented on Tuesday’s incident. Radev said he would summon Russia’s ambassador to Bulgaria, Eleonora Mitrofanova.

Two ships were struck by drones off Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast on Tuesday, according to Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev. The incident was the second drone attack involving ships in the area within a week. One of the vessels, a Ukrainian-owned cargo ship, was hit by three aerial drones shortly before another ship was struck. Bulgarian police rescued all affected crew members, and Radev confirmed that no one had been killed. The source of the latest attacks has not been established. Radev said there was not enough clear evidence to blame a specific party, though he argued that the outcome appeared to benefit Russia. Moscow is also suspected of involvement in the previous week’s incident, whose origin remains unknown. Radev described the escalating violence in the Black Sea as unacceptable and said he would summon the Russian ambassador to discuss it. He has also requested assistance from the European Union and NATO to determine where the attacks came from. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the strikes, describing them as another escalation in Russia’s war in Ukraine. She expressed support for Bulgaria, praised the rescuers’ swift response, and said those responsible should be held accountable. The article places the attacks within a broader pattern of conflict affecting the region, reporting that at least 45 merchant vessels have been struck by drones in the Black Sea over the past 12 months. It characterizes the incidents as part of the war’s growing impact on Eastern Europe, while emphasizing that responsibility for the latest attacks remains unconfirmed.