Parliamentary groups on Tuesday called for stronger security measures and criticized the authorities’ response to new drone attacks on merchant vessels off Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, with some demanding an emergency parliamentary sitting and others urging action through NATO. The ruling Progressive Bulgaria said the country was following NATO procedures and that a coordinated European response was needed.
The reactions followed Prime Minister Rumen Radev’s announcement that two ships had been attacked earlier on Tuesday, just outside Bulgaria’s territorial waters, one east of Byala and the other east of Krapets. One vessel sank, with a crew member rescued. The incidents came a week after two other ships were attacked in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone, prompting President Iliana Iotova to convene the Consultative Council on National Security (CCNS).
Progressive Bulgaria Floor Leader Petar Vitanov said Bulgaria was fully adhering to NATO procedures and that Prime Minister Rumen Radev would discuss possible measures with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte later on Tuesday. Vitanov said Bulgaria could not address the threat alone and called for a coordinated European response. He also said the latest developments had strengthened his belief that Russian drones were responsible, while acknowledging that the origin of the earlier attacks had not been definitively established.
GERB-UDF called for an emergency parliamentary sitting, including a closed-door session to hear information from the Government and security services. MP Georg Georgiev criticized Radev’s decision to summon the Russian Ambassador, arguing that the Prime Minister should instead seek direct contact at a higher political level. Georgiev and fellow GERB-UDF MP Daniel Mitov called for a firmer response to what they described as Russian aggression, warning that failure to act decisively could encourage further attacks. The Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) condemned the attacks as part of what it described as Russia’s aggressive policy in the Black Sea and called on the Government to take all necessary measures within NATO. The party argued that the Government’s conciliatory approach had been interpreted as weakness and urged political unity on national security.
Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) Chair Delyan Peevski blamed what he described as the CCNS’s “toothless” position last week for the renewed attacks. He alleged that the Council had adopted its position without the required quorum and argued that Bulgaria’s failure to respond firmly had encouraged further incidents.
Democratic Bulgaria (DB) also called for an emergency sitting of Parliament to hear the Prime Minister, the foreign and defence ministers, and the civilian and military intelligence services. Its representatives criticized the position adopted by the CCNS on October 7 and reiterated their demand that Russian Ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova be summoned and presented with a diplomatic note. DB MP Ivaylo Mirchev accused Russia of responsibility for the attacks and criticized the authorities for initially presenting Russia and Ukraine as equally possible perpetrators.
Democratic Bulgaria (DB) criticized what it described as Prime Minister Rumen Radev’s and President Iliana Iotova’s conciliatory stance towards Russia, arguing that it had failed to prevent further attacks. The coalition proposed five measures, including summoning Russian Ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova and handing her a diplomatic note, demanding guarantees from Russia against further attacks, initiating urgent NATO consultations, holding an emergency parliamentary hearing of the Prime Minister and security services, and requesting the deployment of NATO air defence systems along Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast. DB said intelligence presented at the October 7 Consultative Council on National Security had identified Russia as responsible for the earlier attacks, accusing the Prime Minister and President of failing to acknowledge this publicly. At a subsequent briefing in Parliament, DB representatives reiterated their demand for an emergency sitting to hear the Prime Minister, the foreign and defence ministers, and the civilian and military intelligence services.
Continue the Change Chair Assen Vassilev warned that the attacks could seriously disrupt commercial shipping in the Black Sea, affecting oil deliveries, grain exports and other trade. He called for contingency plans to safeguard oil and fuel supplies, including an immediate assessment of reserves, checks on deliveries to the Lukoil refinery and talks with Greece and Turkiye on alternative import routes. Vassilev also criticized the Government’s response, arguing that its lack of a firm position had increased Bulgaria’s vulnerability.
Vazrazhdane MP Tsoncho Ganev argued that Bulgaria had already become involved in the war through its military and financial support for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia. He said the origin of the latest attacks remained to be established and warned against speculation. Ganev called for an immediate halt to arms supplies to Ukraine, the termination of bilateral and international commitments providing support to the country, and an end to financial assistance for Ukrainians staying in Bulgaria.
Parliamentary Groups Call for Stronger Response to Black Sea Drone Attacks, Clash over Government’s Handling 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-10-13 14:10:57
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