Two merchant ships were struck by drones in the Black Sea just outside Bulgaria’s territorial waters early on Tuesday, leaving one vessel sunk, 11 crew members missing and several sailors injured. Bulgarian authorities launched rescue operations, while Prime Minister Rumen Radev sought support from NATO and the European Union and discussed coordinated measures to protect shipping in the region.
According to information released by the Transport and Communications Ministry later on Tuesday, the Malta-flagged CHELSEA-3 was attacked 17 nautical miles east of Byala at 1:15 a.m., while the Guinea-Bissau-flagged HS Dignity was struck at 1:20 a.m., 17 nautical miles east of Shabla, and subsequently sank. Both vessels were sailing without cargo. CHELSEA-3 was travelling from the Turkish port of Giresun to Giurgiulesti, while HS Dignity was travelling from Mostaganem, Algeria, to Braila, Romania.
All 15 crew members of CHELSEA-3, seven Ukrainian and eight Azerbaijani nationals, were rescued by a Bulgarian Border Police vessel and brought to Varna. The Interior Ministry said the rescue operation was carried out in rough seas by the nine-member crew of the Border Police vessel Burgas. Three rescued sailors were admitted to the Military Medical Academy’s hospital in Varna with second-degree burns, one of them also suffering a mild traumatic brain injury.
Five members of the 16-strong crew of HS Dignity were rescued by two merchant vessels in the area, Azov Concord and SCANDI ASSERTER, while 11 remained missing. Bulgarian Border Police vessels were dispatched to assist with the rescue operation. The Interior Ministry said the crew members were believed to be Syrian and Egyptian nationals.
Prime Minister Rumen Radev described the attacks as “absolutely unacceptable” and convened an emergency meeting of the Security Council under the Council of Ministers. He said Bulgaria’s permanent representatives to NATO and the EU had been informed and that the country would seek international assistance in investigating the attacks, strengthening air and maritime surveillance and improving its response capabilities.
Radev said Bulgaria did not yet have conclusive evidence identifying the perpetrators, although he believed the circumstances suggested Russian involvement. Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov also expressed suspicion that the drones had come from the Russian side, arguing that it made little sense for Ukraine to attack its own ships.
During a meeting with Russian Ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova, whom he summoned on Tuesday, Radev said the attacks benefited Russia and questioned why Ukraine would destroy its own vessels. Mitrofanova said she had no information from the Russian Defence Ministry about the incidents and did not rule out a provocation by a third party. Radev said Bulgaria would continue working with its EU and NATO allies to establish responsibility.
The Prime Minister also warned that the attacks were already causing economic damage, including higher shipping insurance premiums, reluctance to transport cargo to Bulgarian ports and increased risks and costs for oil deliveries to the Burgas refinery.
In telephone conversations with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Radev called for joint efforts to stop attacks on merchant ships in the Black Sea. The two expressed solidarity with Bulgaria, praised its rescue efforts and indicated readiness to provide allied support in clarifying the circumstances of the incidents. Radev also raised the need to strengthen Bulgaria’s maritime and air surveillance capabilities.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen strongly condemned the attacks, saying they endangered civilian crews and threatened Black Sea security. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the Alliance would continue working closely with its Black Sea allies and adjust its deterrence and defence posture as necessary. European Council President Antonio Costa expressed solidarity with Bulgaria and said growing Russian hybrid activities would be discussed at the European Council meeting on October 15 and 16. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Russia of carrying out the attacks and called for stronger sanctions and measures to protect freedom of navigation.
President Iliana Iotova condemned the attacks as a flagrant violation of international humanitarian and maritime law, warning that freedom of navigation and supply chains were under serious threat. Speaking to Bulgarian National Television later on Tuesday, she said Bulgaria, Romania and Turkiye had coordinated a joint statement seeking a moratorium on drone attacks against commercial and civilian infrastructure in the Black Sea and a halt to hostilities in the area. The three countries also called for Black Sea security to be included as a separate item on the agenda of the forthcoming European Council meeting. Iotova said the North Atlantic Council had discussed the situation and that NATO assistance was envisaged for investigating the October 6 attacks and strengthening Bulgaria’s surveillance and protection capabilities. She added that a regional meeting was expected within ten days to identify specific security measures.
Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova described the repeated attacks as a dangerous escalation of the war in Ukraine and said she was in contact with EU and NATO partners regarding investigative assistance and stronger surveillance capabilities. She stressed the importance of diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.
Radev announced plans for consultations with Romania and Turkiye on joint proposals to safeguard Black Sea shipping. He discussed closer regional cooperation with Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, while Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov held separate telephone conversations with his Romanian and Turkish counterparts. The three defence ministers expressed readiness to strengthen intelligence-sharing, surveillance and coordination to protect maritime traffic.
Interior Ministry Secretary General Lyubomir Nikolov said Bulgaria was also discussing with its partners the acquisition of anti-drone systems capable of detecting threats approaching the country’s Black Sea border. Border Police Director Anton Zlatanov said the necessary equipment had been identified, although such systems were expensive and the technology was developing rapidly.
Separately, the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee and the Bulgarian Lawyers for Human Rights foundation called on the prosecution service to investigate whether the drone attacks on October 6 and 13 constituted war crimes. The two organizations argued that Bulgarian authorities could investigate possible grave international crimes despite the incidents occurring outside the country’s territorial waters, and urged swift action to preserve evidence.
Bulgarian MEPs Andrey Novakov and Emil Radev of GERB/EPP announced an initiative for a delegation of the European Parliament’s Committee on Security and Defence to visit Sofia and Varna within two weeks. Among the proposals raised was the establishment of a European naval mission in the Black Sea, modelled on the EU’s Aspides mission, to escort and protect merchant vessels and their crews.
The latest incidents followed drone attacks on merchant ships in the Black Sea on October 6, which prompted President Iotova to convene the Consultative Council on National Security the following day.
Two Ships Hit by Drones off Bulgarian Coast, Rescue Operations Prompt International Response 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-10-13 17:50:43
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