Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev on Tuesday reported new drone attacks on ships in the Black Sea, describing them as “absolutely unacceptable”. An emergency meeting of the Security Council under the Council of Ministers was convened. Footage from the meeting was published on the prime minister’s Facebook profile.
Radev reported that a ship 18 nautical miles east of Byala was struck by three aerial drones, while another vessel, 17 nautical miles east of Krapets, was hit and sunk, with one crew member rescued.
The incidents come a week after two ships were attacked by maritime and aerial drones in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea, prompting President Iliana Iotova to convene the Consultative Council on National Security.
Radev said Bulgaria is once again conducting an emergency search-and-rescue operation for a vessel in the Black Sea. A distress call concerning a ship 18 nautical miles east of Byala was received at 1:30am on Tuesday, he said. The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Varna responded immediately. According to the crew, the vessel had been struck by three aerial drones on its deck and side.
“Our emergency response assets were immediately deployed. A Border Police crew rescued all those on board: seven Ukrainian nationals and eight Azerbaijani nationals,” Radev said.
The vessel is the Chelsea 3, which sails under the Maltese flag, is registered in Odesa and is Ukrainian-owned.
The crew was successfully transported to the port of Varna just minutes before Radev’s statement, he added. Five crew members were receiving medical assistance for injuries believed to be minor, according to the information available to the authorities.
“The latest attack on merchant ships in the immediate vicinity of Bulgarian territorial waters is absolutely unacceptable. Our permanent representatives to NATO and the European Union have been informed. I am due to speak with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte,” Radev said.
Bulgaria is continuing to seek support for investigations into last week’s attacks on three ships, in order to establish conclusively which country the drones striking vessels close to Bulgarian territorial waters originated from.
“We will also continue to request and insist on assistance to strengthen surveillance of our airspace and maritime domain, as well as to enhance our response capabilities,” the prime minister said.
“We do not have solid and clear evidence to bring accusations against any of the parties. However, as I have already stated, the logic of the situation suggests that the outcome benefits the Russian Federation. I will therefore summon Ambassador Mitrofanova for a meeting today,” Radev said.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Reports New Drone Attacks on Ships in Black Sea 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-10-13 05:57:00
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