Drones Strike Two Ships Off Bulgaria, Sinking One
Bulgaria has asked NATO and the EU for investigative help because authorities say existing evidence does not identify who carried out the attacks.
Overview
- Unidentified drones attacked two commercial ships in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone, sinking one vessel and forcing emergency rescue operations.
- Bulgarian officials say one crew member from the sunken ship was rescued and all 15 crew members of the Maltese-flagged Chelsea 3 were evacuated to Varna.
- Reports differ on injuries: TASS cited two sailors hurt on the Chelsea 3 while Bulgaria’s prime minister said five people received treatment for minor injuries after evacuation.
- Prime Minister Rumen Radev called the strikes unacceptable and formally requested NATO and EU assistance for the ongoing investigations, saying Bulgarian authorities do not yet have clear evidence to assign responsibility.
- The attacks fit a recent pattern of unmanned maritime strikes in the Black Sea that have raised concerns about gaps in ship protection, the safety of commercial routes and pressure on regional search-and-rescue resources.