Vessel sinks near Bulgaria after drone attack: Sofia to summon Russian ambassador
Photo: Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev (Getty Images)
Bulgaria is preparing a diplomatic response following overnight attacks on vessels in the Black Sea. One vessel was attacked by three drones, while another has likely sunk, Bloomberg reports.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said Sofia would summon the Russian ambassador following reports of attacks on vessels near Bulgarian territorial waters.
One of them was the cargo ship Chelsea 3, which belongs to a Ukrainian company and sails under the Maltese flag. According to Radev, the attack took place at around 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 13, approximately 18 nautical miles (33 kilometers) off the Bulgarian coast near the town of Byala.
The crew reported an attack by three drones. All sailors survived and were rescued.
Radev also spoke about another incident. According to preliminary information, another vessel was hit and sank 17 nautical miles from the village of Krapets.
What Bulgaria says about Russia's involvement
The Bulgarian authorities do not yet have sufficient evidence to officially accuse any specific party of carrying out the attacks.
"We lack solid, clear evidence to level accusations against any specific party," Radev said.
At the same time, he noted that, in his view, the situation could benefit Russia.
"Logic suggests the outcome works to the advantage of the Russian Federation," the Bulgarian prime minister added.
Thus, Sofia is planning a diplomatic response to the incidents near its coast, but the question of who is behind the attacks remains open.
Ukraine's reaction
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reacted to Russian strikes on commercial vessels near Bulgaria's territorial waters. According to him, Ukrainian and Azerbaijani citizens were injured in the attack.
Sybiha stressed that the incident demonstrates Moscow's disregard for civilian lives and the safety of shipping in the Black Sea.
He called on international partners to increase pressure on Russia, impose additional sanctions, and take decisive measures to hold it accountable and protect freedom of navigation.
"The Black Sea is a lifeline for global food security. Russia is attacking it to weaponize hunger and hold the world hostage. This must be met with strength," Ukraine's foreign minister said.
On October 6, drones attacked two bulk carriers in the Black Sea near the Bulgarian coast. The Togo-flagged vessel ALFA WATAN sank.
At the time, Radev described the attack as "extremely alarming" but said there were currently no grounds for invoking Articles 4 and 5 of the NATO treaty.
