Two commercial vessels were struck by drones in separate incidents in the Black Sea near Bulgaria. One ship sank east of the village of Krapets, while the other survived an attack east of the town of Byala.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced the incidents, according to Novinite.
Radev also announced plans to hold talks with Russian Ambassador to Bulgaria Eleonora Mitrofanova and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
During an extraordinary meeting of the Security Council under the Council of Ministers, Radev reported that the Maltese-flagged cargo vessel CHELSEA 3 had been struck by three drones approximately 18 nautical miles east of Byala. A second vessel, identified as Azov Concord, sank approximately 17 nautical miles east of Krapets following a drone strike.
A distress signal from CHELSEA 3 was received at 01:30. According to the crew, the drones struck the vessel's deck and hull. The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Varna immediately launched a rescue operation, while a border police team evacuated all 15 people on board: seven Ukrainian nationals and eight Azerbaijani nationals.
The vessel is owned by a Ukrainian company, registered in Odesa and operates under the Maltese flag. The crew was taken to the port of Varna, where, according to preliminary information, five sailors received medical treatment for minor injuries.
The second vessel sank approximately 17 nautical miles east of Krapets. One crew member was rescued, but the available information does not establish the total number of people on board or the fate of any others who may have been aboard.
"Another attack on commercial vessels in the immediate vicinity of Bulgaria's territorial waters is absolutely unacceptable," Radev said.
He added that Bulgaria would seek international assistance to investigate the strikes and determine the origin of the drones.
Radev stressed that the available evidence was insufficient to attribute responsibility to any particular country, although he suggested that the outcome of the attacks appeared to benefit Russia.
"The logic of what is happening indicates that the outcome of these attacks benefits the Russian Federation," Radev said, explaining his intention to hold talks with Mitrofanova.
Bulgaria's permanent representatives to NATO and the European Union have been informed of the incidents.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on X that Ukrainian citizens had been injured in what he described as Russia's latest attack on commercial vessels near Bulgarian territorial waters.
"Russia's latest attack on commercial vessels near Bulgaria's territorial waters, which injured Ukrainian and Azerbaijani citizens, once again demonstrates Moscow's deliberate disregard for civilian lives and maritime security in the Black Sea," Sybiha said.
The Ukrainian foreign minister called on international partners to increase pressure and sanctions against Russia and take decisive measures to hold Moscow 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," Sybiha stressed.
