Merchant shipping to the Bulgarian Black Sea ports of Varna and Burgas “has not stopped and will not stop”, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said Tuesday. Speaking to reporters, he dismissed allegations that merchant shipping in the Black Sea has come to a halt because of frequent drone strikes, and said “there is no risk for Bulgarian shipping a the moment”.
The Prime Minister was speaking on the sidelines of a first-sod ceremony for a battery facility in the south-central town of Tvarditsa.
He said that he had asked the Transport Ministry to prepare a report for the period for October 1-19 and compare it with the same time in September and last year. The figures showed an increase of traffic to and from Varna and Burgas by 30 ships from October 1-19 last year and no change from September 1-19, 2026.
Transport Minister Georgi Peev mentioned the same report earlier on Tuesday when he said that there has been no decline in ship traffic at the ports of Varna and Burgas during the month of hostilities, and that statistics even point to a slight increase. He added that the effects of the hostilities and strikes near Bulgarian territory will be monitored in the future, and that the Government was working hard to ensure export opportunities for grain producers.
Radev further commented: “Those whipping up hysteria should calm down.”
He said the government “is working with its allies and is using the instruments of diplomacy to eliminate the risk to ships bound for Burgas and Varna”.
On October 6, Prime Minister Radev said, in reference to one of several drone attacks in the Black Sea: “What is happening is seriously disrupting shipping in the Black Sea, driving up insurance costs even further and making shipping extremely difficult.”
On October 13, the Prime Minister said, as he met with the Russian Ambassador in Sofia, Radev said: “Although Bulgaria is not a party to the war, it is suffering significant economic and financial damage. The attacks in the Black Sea have already led to an increased risk to merchant shipping, a rise in insurance premiums and even a refusal to transport cargo to Bulgarian ports. This also makes oil supplies to the Burgas refinery more expensive and jeopardizes them.”
PM: “Merchant Shipping to Varna and Burgas Has Not and Will Not Stop” THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-10-20 11:57:00
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