Overview
- Three unmanned naval drones struck the Liberian-flagged container ship Contship Jet about 21 nautical miles southeast of Shabla, and the vessel later sank after the damage.
- All 18 crew members were rescued and taken to Varna for medical checks after evacuation by Bulgarian naval and border police vessels.
- The ship had been sailing from Israel’s Haifa to Romania’s Constanța and carried containers with hazardous goods such as lithium-ion batteries and flammable liquids.
- Ukraine and some regional officials have pointed to Moscow as the likely beneficiary of the strikes while Russia denies responsibility and formal attribution remains unresolved.
- NATO, the European Commission and coastal states have increased maritime patrols, radar, counter-drone assets and forensic teams to gather evidence and try to prevent further attacks, a change that could affect Black Sea trade routes and Ukraine’s export options.