In brief
Russian‑driven drones struck two merchant vessels off Bulgaria, sinking one and damaging another. The Prime Minister Rumen Radev blamed Russia and summoned its ambassador, while Ukraine and European allies call for a maritime ceasefire. The attacks add a new threat to the already volatile Black Sea corridor, raising concerns of broader escalation in the Ukraine conflict.
Russian‑driven drones struck two merchant vessels off the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria, leading the country’s Prime Minister Rumen Radev to say a ship had sunk and to summon the Russian ambassador.
The stricken vessels were located 17 nautical miles east of Krapets and 18 nautical miles from Byala. A Maltese‑flagged merchant ship was hit by three drones, but all 15 crew were rescued, while a Ukrainian‑owned ship was damaged, sustaining five injuries.
Radev emphasised the attacks could become a new front in the Ukraine conflict, noting that the Black Sea corridor is already a critical lifeline for global grain shipments.
Ukraine’s foreign ministry rebuked Russia for the attacks and called on the international community to enforce a ceasefire in the Black Sea, which Russia vows to protect against what it calls “weaponised hunger.”
European Union and NATO have requested technical assistance to investigate the strikes. The Prime Minister said there was no concrete evidence linking Russia or Ukraine, but believed the outcome appeared to favour Moscow.
The incident marks the third commercial vessel hit in the region within the past week, following the sinking of the Alfa Watan, which lost ten crew members, nine of whom were Syrian.
War‑time radio chatter remains tense as the region watches for further raids; the maritime corridor is now under scrutiny as a potential new theater of escalation between NATO allies and Russia.
The Prime Minister reiterated his commitment to protect Bulgarian territorial waters and called for solidarity with Ukraine, while also refusing any suggestion that he is “pro‑Russian.”
As incidents in the Black Sea continue, international bodies urge the parties to respect maritime law and keep shipping lanes safe for civilian crews and commercial trade.
