NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said he had spoken with Prime Minister Rumen Radev following the latest attacks on merchant ships in the Black Sea on Tuesday.
“NATO will continue to work closely with our Allies in the Black Sea,” Rutte wrote on X. He added that NATO had already strengthened its posture along the eastern flank and will continue to monitor the security environment, adjusting its deterrence and defence posture as needed.
European Council President Antonio Costa said in a social media post that the EU stood in full solidarity with Bulgaria following the attacks on Tuesday morning. Attacks on civilian shipping and merchant vessels were increasing, he noted, describing them as completely unacceptable.
Costa said the growing number of Russian hybrid activities would be discussed at the European Council meeting scheduled for Thursday and Friday in Brussels.
Earlier on Tuesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen strongly condemned the drone attacks off Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, saying the Black Sea had become another front of escalation in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
“This is unacceptable. I strongly condemn the drone attacks on merchant ships near Bulgaria’s coast,” von der Leyen wrote on X, adding that the attacks put crew members’ lives in grave danger and threatened security in the Black Sea.
“We stand with Bulgaria and thank its rescuers for their swift response,” she said. “Those responsible should be held accountable,” she added.
A ship 18 nautical miles east of Byala was struck by three aerial drones in the early hours of Tuesday, 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.
EU, NATO Condemn New Drone Attacks off Bulgaria’s Black Sea Coast 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-10-13 10:43:53
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