Bulgaria Black Sea Drone Attacks Sink Ship, Trigger Diplomatic Tensions

Bulgaria Black Sea Drone Attacks have heightened maritime security concerns after two merchant vessels were struck off the country’s coast on 13 October 2026. One ship sank, with crew members missing, while all 15 crew members aboard the Maltese-flagged Chelsea 3 were rescued after it was damaged. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev summoned Russian Ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova and sought support from NATO and the European Union. Bulgaria has not conclusively established responsibility, although Ukrainian officials have blamed Russia for the attacks.

Bulgaria Black Sea Drone Attacks Sink Merchant Ship as Rumen Radev Summons Russian Ambassador

Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Rumen Radev has called in the Russian ambassador, Eleonora Mitrofanova, after drone attacks sank one vessel and injured five crew members on another.

Bulgarian Black Sea attacks by drones have heightened concerns over maritime security after the sinking of a merchant ship and damage to another off the Bulgarian coast on Tuesday, prompting a diplomatic response from Sofia.

Prime Minister Rumen Radev said one vessel sank 17 nautical miles (31 kilometres) east of Krapets, with one crew member rescued. Three drones hit another Ukrainian-owned vessel off Byala.

The second vessel had 15 crew members, all of whom were rescued. Five were injured, but no one was seriously injured. The damaged ship was identified by Radev as the Chelsea 3, flying the Maltese flag and registered in Ukraine's Odesa.

Bulgaria Black Sea Drone Attacks Raise Maritime Security Concerns

Radev convened an urgent meeting with security chiefs and then called in the Russian ambassador, Eleonora Mitrofanova, for an explanation. There was still no conclusive evidence that either side was to blame, he acknowledged.

"The circumstances suggest that Russia has an interest in these attacks, but it has not been conclusively proven that it is responsible," Radev said. He said the latest incident was completely unacceptable.

Bulgarian media said Mitrofanova told Radev she had not received any information about the latest attacks from Russia’s defence ministry. She also floated the idea that a third party may have staged the strikes as a provocation.

The incidents happened about a week after two other commercial vessels were attacked by drones, sea and air, in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone. One vessel, the Alfa Watan, was lost.

All 10 crew members on the Alfa Watan, including nine Syrians, are believed to be dead, the report said. Earlier incidents have raised concerns about routes for civilian shipping across the western Black Sea.

Ukraine Blames Russia as European Leaders Condemn Attacks

Ukraine has directly blamed Russia for the latest strikes. The strikes showed Moscow’s disregard for civilian lives and maritime security off Bulgarian territorial waters, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said.

Sybiha also warned that the Black Sea was still vital to global food security, saying attacks on commercial shipping threatened international supplies. He called for a robust response to defend civilian ships and maritime commerce.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Tuesday the Black Sea was becoming another front in the escalation of Russia's war on Ukraine, calling the situation unacceptable.

Bulgaria, a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) member, is looking for international help. Radev said he would soon talk to NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte about the developing maritime security situation.

Earlier, the Bulgarian government had requested technical assistance from NATO and the European Union to investigate the attacks of 6 October, acknowledging it did not know whether Russia or Ukraine was responsible.

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Russia-Ukraine War Expands Risks for Black Sea Shipping

Russia’s military has not commented publicly on the latest incidents. Moscow has ramped up attacks on ships in the Black Sea, particularly in its western waters, as the war against Ukraine continues.

Russia says it strikes ships carrying weapons and dual-use cargo to Ukrainian ports. Moscow has cited attacks on the ports of Mykolaiv and Chornomorsk, and another incident in the Black Sea.

Commercial ships carrying grain and other civilian goods have also been targeted, Ukraine and its European allies say. Disruptions in maritime trade are important for international food markets because both Russia and Ukraine are major exporters of grain.

Two ships had been attacked off Bulgaria the week before, and on the same day Ukraine struck an oil tanker at Russia's Black Sea port of Sochi, highlighting the mutual escalation.

Moscow has dismissed repeated calls from the United States and Europe for a naval ceasefire in the Black Sea, saying Ukraine has attacked Russian merchant ships operating in the region.

In 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russia currently holds about 20 per cent of Ukrainian territory, the report says.

Diplomatic Response and Investigation Ahead

The latest attacks pose immediate challenges to Bulgaria for civilian protection, maritime trade, and regional security. Investigations are ongoing to determine liability, and authorities are assessing safety risks to ships operating close to Bulgarian waters.

Further coordination with NATO and the European Union might help shed light on the circumstances of the incidents. The investigation continues, and Sprouts News will keep track of official results and diplomatic developments.