Zelenskyy makes statement after attack on ships near Bulgaria
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (Getty Images)
Ukraine was not involved in the attack on civilian vessels off the coast of Bulgaria. Russia carried out the strike using sea and aerial drones, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
According to him, intelligence and security agencies are currently working to establish all the circumstances surrounding Russia's attack on civilian shipping.
"Two civilian vessels were attacked in Bulgarian waters overnight. One sank, while the other sustained significant damage. We extend our sympathy to all those affected," Zelenskyy said.
The president stressed that Ukrainian forces had not conducted any operations in the area. He added that Russia's actions were a deliberate attempt to make the western part of the Black Sea unsafe for navigation.
"We clarified all the information with the Bulgarian side: our Navy contacted its counterparts in Bulgaria, and it was established that this was a Russian combined attack using sea and aerial drones," he said.
Escalation continues to grow
The head of state said he had already instructed the Armed Forces, the Defense Ministry and intelligence agencies to strengthen cooperation with partners as much as possible to expand Ukraine's defense capabilities.
Zelenskyy noted that a vessel had been hit in Romanian waters the day before, and now another attack had occurred in Bulgaria. He said Moscow plans to ramp up escalation.
"Their drones are constantly entering Moldova, and this is not the first attack on vessels in the Black Sea in the waters of our partners. Attacks on our ports are ongoing, and there must be a clear response to this Russian aggression," the president said.
What is known about the attack on the vessels
The attack on the vessels occurred at around 3 a.m. on Tuesday, October 6, approximately 70–80 nautical miles east of the Bulgarian coast, near Byala. Two bulk carriers were targeted:
- ALFA WATAN, sailing under the Togo flag;
- ABLE, sailing under the Palau flag.
The bulk carrier ALFA WATAN sustained critical damage and sank. It is currently unknown what happened to its crew. Bulgarian authorities are conducting a search-and-rescue operation.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said there were no grounds to invoke Articles 4 or 5 of the NATO Treaty over the drone attack on the vessels.
He added that the drones that attacked the ships could have been either Russian or Ukrainian.
