In brief
A drone assault on two merchant vessels near Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast led to one ship sinking and the acute distress of the international shipping community. Prime Minister Rumen Radev described the incident as “absolutely unacceptable” and called the Russian ambassador for clarification. Ukraine has publicly blamed Russia for the attacks, while Moscow denies responsibility. The attacks are part of a wider pattern of drone strikes threatening commercial shipping and critical grain supplies in the Black Sea.
In a sudden drone assault on two merchant vessels near Bulgaria's Black Sea coast, one ship sank and a second sustained damage. The incident has been labeled "absolutely unacceptable" by Prime Minister Rumen Radev, who has called the Russian ambassador to Bulgaria for clarification.
According to Radev, the fully damaged vessel, the Maltese‑flagged Chelsea 3, was hit 17 nautical miles east of Krapets and 18 nautical miles from Byala, with all 15 crew rescued after sustaining minor injuries. The other, Ukrainian‑owned ship, struck by three drones, sank 31 km east of Krapets; 15 lives are listed missing.
The attack follows a string of drone‑related strikes on commercial shipping in the region, escalating tensions in the Black Sea and threatening critical supplies such as grain. Ukraine has accused Russia of the strikes, while Moscow denies responsibility.
