In brief
A commercial ship sank following a drone attack 17 nautical miles east of Krapets on 13 October, prompting Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev to call Russia’s ambassador and blame Moscow for the assault. The other vessel, a Ukrainian‑owned ship, was hit by three drones 18 nautical miles from Byala but all 15 crew were rescued. The incident follows two prior attacks that claimed the lives of ten seafarers, including nine Syrians, and is part of an escalating pattern of drone strikes targeting merchant shipping in the Black Sea. Ukraine and European allies have condemned the attacks as a new front in the Russia‑Ukraine war, while Russia denies any involvement, citing the targeting of military‑use cargo. The incident has reignited calls for a naval ceasefire in the region.
Merchant vessel sinks after drone strike off Bulgarian coast
A merchant ship has vanished on the high seas after a drone hit two vessels near Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast on 13 October. The Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev stated the vessel sank 17 nautical miles east of Krapets, leaving one crew member rescued and the rest missing. The Ukrainian‑owned ship was struck by three drones 18 nautical miles from Byala and all 15 crew were recovered by sea‑rescue teams.
Radev has called the Russian ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova to discuss the attack, saying that “yet another strike on merchant ships close to Bulgaria’s waters is absolutely unacceptable.” He suggested that the attack could benefit the Russian Federation but admitted there is no conclusive evidence to attribute blame to either side.
The incident follows a week‑old series of drone blasts that hit two commercial vessels in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone. One of those, the Alfa Watan, sank after being hit, claiming the lives of ten crew members including nine Syrians.
Ukraine’s foreign ministry has directly blamed Russia, accusing Moscow of targeting vessels that carry civilian cargo. Kyiv and its European allies, including the United States, have called for a naval ceasefire in the Black Sea, while Russia has rejected such calls and counter‑accuses Ukraine of attacking Russian merchant ships. The region’s maritime security is now a focal point of the growing conflict, with both sides claiming it is a key front in the war against Ukraine.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has warned that the Black Sea is becoming “another front of escalating conflict” and that Russia’s actions are unacceptable. NATO, of which Bulgaria is a member, has expressed concern and is awaiting an investigation of the 6 October attacks. Turkey has urged both Russia and Ukraine to cease attacks on commercial shipping and to safeguard global food security.
