Bulgarian PM says drone attack on 2 commercial vessels is ‘blatant violation of international law’
Authorities said 18 crew were evacuated and two sailors were severely injured as the attack disrupted Black Sea shipping and raised pollution concerns.
- 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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92 Articles
In Bulgaria, the recent drone attack on two dry trucks in the Black Sea will be brought to the table by the President of the country, Iliana Yotov, on 7 October at 1 p.m. The emergency meeting will be held in closed session and will be devoted to threats to maritime security.
Merchant ship crew missing after drone sinks vessel in Bulgaria’s Black Sea
The crew of a merchant ship was missing on Tuesday after the vessel sank in the Black Sea off NATO member Bulgaria following a drone strike that Prime Minister Rumen Radev described as a gross violation of international law.
Last night, another cargo ship was hit by a drone attack in the Black Sea. This time near the coast of NATO member Bulgaria. The country's president warns that the war in Ukraine risks escalating out of control.
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