A fresh wave of drone attacks off Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast has left one merchant ship sunk and triggered a diplomatic response, with Prime Minister Rumen Radev summoning Russia’s ambassador over suspected Russian involvement.
Radev said two vessels were struck by drones, with one sinking 17 nautical miles (31km) east of Krapets, where one crew member was rescued. The second vessel, which is Ukrainian-owned, was hit by three drones about 18 nautical miles from the town of Byala. All 15 crew members aboard were rescued.
The latest attacks came barely a week after two other commercial vessels were targeted by sea and aerial drones within Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone. One of the ships, the Alfa Watan, sank, with all 10 crew members, including nine Syrians, presumed dead.
Following Tuesday’s attacks, Radev convened an emergency meeting and summoned Russian ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova. Although he acknowledged that there was no conclusive evidence implicating either side, he said the circumstances suggested that Russia stood to benefit from the incidents.
Bulgaria, a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, is also seeking further support in investigating the attacks.
Radev said he would speak shortly with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, after previously requesting technical assistance from NATO and the European Union to investigate the October 6 incidents.
Since taking office during the summer, Radev has rejected claims that he is pro-Russian. However, the latest developments have intensified concerns over the widening security risks in the Black Sea amid Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Ukraine has directly accused Russia of carrying out the latest attacks, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned on Tuesday that the Black Sea was becoming another front in the escalation of Russia’s war in Ukraine, describing the situation as unacceptable.
