Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said on Tuesday that he suspected Russian involvement in the latest drone attacks on Black Sea ships, while acknowledging uncertainty about the drones used.
Answering a question, Stoyanov said it was unclear what kind of drones had been used but described the situation as different. He said it made no sense for Ukrainians to strike their own ships and that, given the circumstances, the drones were thought to have come from the Russian side.
He was speaking in the National Assembly ahead of a meeting of the parliamentary Defence Committee.
Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said there had been further drone attacks on ships in the Black Sea. He called an extraordinary meeting of the government’s Security Council.
On October 6, 2026, two merchant ships were attacked by sea and aerial drones in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone, about 70 nautical miles east of Byala. The Togo-flagged Alfa Watan sank, and its crew was reported missing. The Palau-flagged Able caught fire, but all 18 crew members were rescued, including two who were injured.
Separately, on October 6, 2026, Odesa Regional Military Administration Head Oleh Kiper said a Russian drone had struck a Marshall Islands-flagged merchant vessel in the Black Sea, killing one crew member and injuring seven others. The vessel was carrying rapeseed oil and caught fire after being hit.
The attacks near Byala prompted President Iliana Iotova to convene the Consultative Council for National Security on October 7, 2026. After the meeting, Radev said the nature of the cargo and the vessels’ courses suggested Russian involvement. He said there was no direct threat to Bulgaria’s national security, although risks remained.
On October 12, 2026, the government said Bulgaria had requested technical assistance from the EU and NATO to investigate the attacks near Byala. Bulgarian efforts to locate drone debris that could help establish its origin had been unsuccessful. Assistance was also sought from the European Maritime Safety Agency, with Bulgaria seeking to examine available physical evidence and satellite data to establish responsibility beyond doubt.
Defence Minister Suspects Russian Involvement in Latest Black Sea Ship Attacks 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-10-13 12:16:03
Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news. Bulgaria news, Bulgarian news, news from Bulgaria, latest news Bulgaria, breaking news Bulgaria, Bulgaria today, Bulgarian politics, Bulgarian government. Bulgarian economy, Bulgarian business, Bulgarian society, Bulgarian culture, Bulgarian tourism, Bulgarian sports, Bulgarian media, Bulgarian parliament. Sofia news, Plovdiv news, Varna news, Burgas news, Ruse news, Stara Zagora news, Pleven news, Sliven news. Dobrich news, Shumen news, Pernik news, Haskovo news, Yambol news, Pazardzhik news, Blagoevgrad news, Veliko Tarnovo news. Vratsa news, Gabrovo news, Asenovgrad news, Vidin news, Bulgarian local news, Bulgaria current affairs, Bulgaria breaking news, Bulgaria headlines. Balkan news, Southeast Europe news, Bulgarian international news, Bulgaria world news, Bulgarian elections, Bulgaria events, Bulgaria analysis, Bulgaria updates.Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law.
BULGARIA NEWS – NEWS AGENCY 2009–2026 2026-10-13 12:16:03