Drones attacked two ships in the Black Sea near Bulgaria on Tuesday, causing one to sink and leading to emergency rescue efforts, according to Prime Minister Rumen Radev. The crew of the Maltese-flagged Chelsea 3, consisting of seven Ukrainian and eight Azerbaijani citizens, was safely evacuated after reporting hits on the ship’s deck and hull by three drones.
The incidents took place 34 and 32 kilometers off the Bulgarian coast. While five crew members were rescued, 11 remain missing from the vessel identified as the cargo ship Azov Concord. Bulgarian authorities are awaiting comments from its Turkey-based manager.
During an emergency Security Council meeting, Radev condemned the attacks as “absolutely unacceptable” and stated Bulgaria’s request for assistance from NATO and the European Union. Although the responsible party remains unknown, Radev and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha pointed fingers at Russia for the drone assaults.
Sybiha accused Russia of jeopardizing civilian lives and maritime security in the Black Sea and urged international partners to impose sanctions and hold Russia accountable. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also condemned the drone attacks as a dangerous escalation in the region.
The recent incidents occurred a week after similar drone strikes on commercial vessels in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy blamed Russia for the attacks. Additionally, a Turkish-owned cargo ship carrying corn sank following a drone attack off Romania’s coast, resulting in casualties.
Russia has yet to comment on the recent events, prompting Radev to schedule a meeting with the Russian ambassador to Bulgaria.