Merchant Ship Sinks in Drone Attack Off Bulgaria; PM Suspects Russia

A merchant ship has sunk and another sustained damage after drones attacked two vessels off Bulgaria's Black Sea coast, prompting Prime Minister Rumen Radev to summon Russia's ambassador. Radev indicated that Russia is suspected of orchestrating the attacks.

One vessel, the Maltese-flagged Chelsea 3 which is registered in Odesa, Ukraine, was hit by three drones approximately 18 nautical miles from Byala. All 15 crew members aboard were rescued, with five receiving treatment for minor injuries. The other ship, which sank 17 nautical miles east of Krapets, had one crew member saved.

"Another attack on merchant ships in the immediate vicinity of Bulgarian territorial waters is absolutely unacceptable," Radev stated after an emergency meeting with security chiefs.

While there is no conclusive evidence directly attributing blame, Radev suggested that "the logic suggests that the outcome benefits the Russian Federation." He plans to discuss the incidents with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

Ukraine has directly accused Russia of the latest attacks. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the Black Sea as "another front of escalation of the Russian war in Ukraine," calling the situation "unacceptable."

These attacks follow a similar incident last week when two commercial ships were targeted by sea and aerial drones in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone. One of those vessels, the Alfa Watan, sank, and all 10 crew members are presumed dead.

The recent incidents occur amidst heightened Russian strikes on vessels in the Black Sea, which Moscow claims are aimed at disrupting weapons and dual-use cargo deliveries to Ukrainian ports. Conversely, Kyiv and its European allies assert that Russian attacks are targeting merchant vessels carrying grain and other civilian cargo. The Black Sea is a critical route for global food security, and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that Russia's actions "demonstrates Moscow's deliberate disregard for civilian lives and maritime security."

Russia has not publicly commented on the recent drone attacks. The country launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and currently controls approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory.