Bulgarian PM says drone attack on 2 commercial vessels is ‘blatant violation of international law’
- On Tuesday, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev reported that sea and aerial drones struck two commercial vessels about 80 miles off Bulgaria's coast, sinking the Togo-flagged Alfa Watan and setting the Palau-flagged Able ablaze.
- This attack follows a Monday incident where a Turkish-owned cargo ship sank off Romania, killing two people. The Russia-Ukraine war increasingly disrupts Black Sea shipping, driving up insurance costs and threatening regional security.
- Radev denounced the strike as "an unacceptable attack in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone," violating international maritime law. Bulgarian ferry evacuated 18 crew members from the Able; two sailors suffered severe injuries and were flown to hospital in Varna.
- NATO referred inquiries regarding drone origins to Bulgarian authorities, citing insufficient evidence for attribution. Radev stated it remains unclear whether the drones originated from Russia or Ukraine, as investigations continue.
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the attacks, stating, "Commercial ships – and innocent crews – are being targeted, with lives already lost at sea." Radev warned the war could expand geographically, increasing global conflict risks.
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Bulgaria's president blames Russia's war in Ukraine for wors
Bulgarian authorities take an injured crew member to a hospital after two commercial vessels were attacked in the NATO member's Black Sea economic zone on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, Varna, in what was the first such attack on shipping in the area. (Bulgarian News Agency via AP)
Drone attacks put Europe’s Black Sea security strategy to the test
The European Union has a plan to safeguard the Black Sea. But days after drones wreaked havoc along Romania and Bulgaria’s coast, sinking commercial vessels and killing two people, questions loom over how Brussels can protect the sea.
‘Dialogue, Diplomacy Needed’: India On String Of Black Sea Attacks On Ships
<p class="isSelectedEnd">India on Wednesday condemned a string of attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea region, saying the incidents threaten commercial shipping and endanger the lives of seafarers.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">#WATCH | Delhi: On recent security developments and maritime incidents in the Black Sea region, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "We have seen a string of attacks in the Bla…
No survivors have been found after a drone strike sank a ship off the coast of Bulgaria, rescuers said on Wednesday, announcing that search operations had been ended.
Bulgarian rescuers have ended their search for the crew of a merchant ship that sank in the Black Sea after being hit by a drone. None of the crew have been found.
The search for the ship's crew has been abandoned. The incident, which occurred off Byala, is the first of its kind in Bulgarian waters.
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