The operation to tow the motor vessel Chelsea 3 was carried out in bad weather conditions and was unprecedented, Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Peev told journalists after the vessel arrived at the Port of Burgas.
“This was a rescue operation, and we are extremely pleased that it succeeded on the second attempt,” the minister commented. He explained that the operation was conducted under the supervision of the Ministry of Transport and the Maritime Administration in Burgas, with the participation of the Bulgarian Navy and the Border Police.
Peev highlighted that Port Master Zhivko Petrov had led the operation and expressed his gratitude to him.
“As the Ministry of Transport, we have a responsibility to ensure that vessels drifting uncontrollably are not left in our waters. That is why we made every possible effort to bring the ship here,” Georgi Peev added.
He stressed that Bulgaria would make every effort to gather evidence and conduct an independent investigation to establish conclusively where the attack originated. Peev noted that Prime Minister Radev had made this commitment during his visit to Brussels. The minister also recalled Radev’s talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Antfnio Costa, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
“The attack most likely came from Russia, as it is highly unlikely that Ukraine would attack its own vessels. However, we must prove that this is the case,” the transport minister said.
Georgi Peev said that conclusions must always be based on evidence, adding that the Bulgarian authorities would conduct an investigation and that its findings would be made public and communicated to European partners.
“If assistance is needed, it will be provided,” the minister said, adding that the results would be presented clearly and unequivocally to the public and the European Union.
The operation to tow the motor vessel Chelsea 3, which had been attacked by drones, entered its main phase at 8.25 pm last night, the Ministry of Transport said reported.
On October 13, Prime Minister Rumen Radev reported new drone attacks against vessels in the Black Sea off the Bulgarian coast. The Maltese-flagged motor vessel Chelsea 3 was attacked 17 nautical miles east of Byala, with all 15 crew members rescued. Another vessel, HS Dignity, sailing under the flag of Guinea-Bissau, was struck by a drone and sank 17 nautical miles east of Shabla.
On Friday, the Sofia Military District Prosecutor’s Office announced that it had initiated pre-trial proceedings following a report containing allegations of a crime committed in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea, involving the vessel Chelsea 3.
Rescue of Drifting Chelsea 3 Was Unprecedented, Transport Minister Says 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-10-17 06:55:00
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General Assembly of Prosecutors Begins Election of Members of Supreme Judicial Council 2026
