Drone attack sinks ship off Bulgarian coast as Radev summons Russian ambassador
3 sourcesUpdated Oct 13, 20261 min read
Drones hit two merchant ships off Bulgaria's Black Sea coast early Tuesday. One sank 17 nautical miles east of Krapets; one crew member was saved. Three drones struck the Ukrainian-owned, Maltese-flagged Chelsea 3, registered in Odesa, 18 nautical miles from Byala. All 15 of its crew were rescued and five had minor injuries. Rumen Radev called in security chiefs and summoned Russian ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova. A week earlier, on 6 October, two other merchant ships were hit in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone; the Alfa Watan sank and all 10 crew, including nine Syrians, were presumed dead. WHAT'S CONTESTED: Radev said there was no clear and conclusive evidence of blame on either side, while adding that the logic suggests that the outcome benefits the Russian Federation. Andrii Sybiha called it Russia's latest attack on commercial vessels near Bulgaria's territorial waters and said Moscow shows deliberate disregard for civilian lives and maritime security, attacking a Black Sea lifeline for global food security to weaponise hunger. Ursula von der Leyen spoke of another front of escalation of the Russian war in Ukraine and called it unacceptable. Radev said the latest attack on a commercial vessel in the immediate vicinity of Bulgaria's territorial waters is absolutely unacceptable. He said he would speak with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Bulgaria is a NATO member.
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If the drones came from Russian forces, Radev's move is the least they should do to protect their coastline and shipping.
It's good that all fifteen crew members were rescued without loss of life, but merchant ships shouldn't be targets in this war.
This looks like another escalation in the Black Sea, and Bulgaria has every right to call in the Russian ambassador for answers.
