Drone Attack Damages Ships Off Bulgaria’s Black Sea Coast

Two ships were hit in drone attacks off Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, with one of them sinking, according to Prime Minister Rumen Radev. The Ukrainian-owned Chelsea 3, sailing under a Maltese flag, was struck by three drones approximately 18 nautical miles (33 km) off Bulgaria at around 1:30 AM local time on Tuesday (22:30 GMT on Monday). Radev reported that the ship's 15-man crew, consisting of seven Ukrainians and eight Azerbaijanis, was rescued, with five crew members receiving medical assistance, though no serious injuries were reported. Additionally, one crew member from the ship that sank was also rescued. Radev described the incident as “absolutely unacceptable,” noting it occurred near Bulgarian territorial waters. He indicated that he would speak with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte regarding the situation. While Radev stated there was no clear evidence identifying the perpetrators, he mentioned that “the outcome benefits” Russia and announced that the Russian ambassador would be summoned over the incident. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the attacks, stating, “The Black Sea has become another front of escalation of the Russian war in Ukraine.” She emphasized that the drone attacks on merchant ships near Bulgaria’s coast were unacceptable, putting crew lives in danger and threatening security in the Black Sea. Von der Leyen expressed gratitude for Bulgaria's swift rescue response and called for accountability for those responsible. Bulgaria's strategic position as a NATO member on the Black Sea is significant, especially given the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. This incident follows previous drone attacks that also targeted ships off Bulgaria’s coast, with concerns rising over hybrid attacks involving Russia.