Two ships were hit by drones off Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, leaving one vessel sunk, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said. He called the episode unacceptable and said he planned a conversation with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
The Ukrainian-owned Chelsea 3, registered under Malta’s flag, was struck by three drones and damaged roughly 18 nautical miles (33km) off Bulgaria. Radev put the time at about 1:30am on Tuesday, or 22:30 GMT on Monday.
Crew rescued as ship sinks off Bulgaria
Radev said all 15 people aboard the Chelsea 3, including seven Ukrainians and eight Azerbaijanis, were rescued. Five of them received medical help, but none was seriously hurt. He added that a crew member from the vessel that sank had also been saved.
Radev acknowledged there was no clear proof of who carried out the strikes. He nonetheless said the outcome favoured Russia, and that the Russian ambassador would be summoned over the incident.
European reaction and wider Black Sea security concerns
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the attacks. She said the Black Sea had become “another front of escalation” in Russia’s war in Ukraine.
On X, von der Leyen called the attacks unacceptable and strongly condemned them, saying they endangered crew lives and threatened security in the Black Sea. She stood with Bulgaria, thanked its rescuers for their quick response, and said those responsible should be held accountable.
Bulgaria, a NATO member, holds a strategic position on the Black Sea, where Russia and Ukraine both depend on vital ports. The incidents come amid growing concern over hybrid attacks involving Russia.
Last week, drones hit two ships off the same coast, causing one to sink. All 10 crew members of that vessel remain unaccounted for.
