Drones struck two merchant ships off Bulgaria on 13 October, leaving one sunk. Prime Minister Rumen Radev said all fifteen sailors aboard the Chelsea 3 were evacuated, while one sailor was initially rescued from the second vessel. Bulgaria will seek international technical assistance; the drones’ origin remains undetermined. Responsibility has not yet been established.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced on 13 October that drones had attacked two merchant ships off the country’s Black Sea coast. One vessel sank. The attacks prompted an emergency security meeting as officials received information about the second ship while responding to the first incident.[1], [2]
According to Radev, three aerial drones hit the Maltese-flagged Chelsea 3 east of Byala, a Bulgarian coastal town. Border police evacuated all 15 sailors, including seven Ukrainians and eight Azerbaijanis. Five received care for minor injuries. Radev said the vessel was brought to Varna, Bulgaria’s Black Sea port. The second ship sank east of Krapets, another settlement on Bulgaria’s coast; one crew member was initially rescued.[1]
Radev said he would summon Russia’s ambassador and speak with Mark Rutte, secretary-general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Bulgaria is seeking international technical assistance to establish the drones’ origin and strengthen air and sea monitoring. Radev said there was no firm evidence identifying where the drones came from. The earlier announcement had not established how many people were aboard the sunken vessel.[1]
