Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev has summoned Russian Ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova following a series of drone attacks on merchant vessels in the Black Sea. The diplomatic move comes after two ships were struck near Bulgarian waters, resulting in the sinking of one vessel and injuries to several crew members.
Radev convened an emergency security meeting on Tuesday to address the incidents. He stated that while conclusive evidence of responsibility was not immediately available, the strategic outcome of the attacks appeared to benefit the Russian Federation. The Prime Minister described the attacks on commercial shipping as absolutely unacceptable.
Details of the Maritime Incidents
Local officials reported that one vessel sank approximately 17 nautical miles east of the village of Krapets. Eleven crew members remain missing, and one sailor was rescued. The second vessel, a Ukrainian-owned ship, was hit by drones 18 nautical miles from the town of Byala. All 15 crew members on that ship were successfully rescued.
Radev identified one of the targeted ships as the Maltese-flagged Chelsea 3, which is registered in Odesa. Five crew members on that vessel suffered minor injuries and were receiving medical treatment. The Bulgarian government has not yet released further details regarding the identity of the sunken ship or the status of the missing sailors.
These attacks occurred just outside Bulgarian territorial waters. Had the strikes occurred slightly further west, within the country’s territorial limits, they could have triggered Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty. This clause defines an armed attack on one NATO member as an attack on all, potentially invoking a collective defense response.
International and Regional Reactions
Ukraine has directly blamed Russia for the latest strikes. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that Moscow is deliberately disregarding civilian lives and maritime security. He emphasized that the Black Sea serves as a critical lifeline for global food security and accused Russia of weaponizing hunger to hold the world hostage.
Russia has not publicly commented on the specific incidents involving the Bulgarian coast. Moscow has recently intensified strikes on vessels in the western Black Sea, claiming it is targeting ships delivering weapons and dual-use cargo to Ukrainian ports. However, Kyiv and its European allies maintain that merchant vessels carrying grain and other civilian goods are being attacked.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte spoke with Radev regarding the situation. Rutte confirmed that the alliance is strengthening its posture along the eastern flank and will continue to monitor the security environment. He noted that NATO will adjust its deterrence and defense measures as needed in response to the escalating tensions.
The European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also weighed in, describing the Black Sea as another front of escalation in the Russian war in Ukraine. She labeled the attacks on commercial shipping as unacceptable. Turkey has called on both Russia and Ukraine to halt attacks in the region, citing the importance of safe passage for global trade.
This incident follows a similar attack one week prior, where two other commercial ships were hit in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone. One of those vessels, the Alfa Watan, sank, and all 10 crew members, including nine Syrians, are presumed dead. Radev had previously requested technical assistance from NATO and the EU to investigate those earlier attacks, noting the ambiguity surrounding the perpetrators.
As investigations continue, Bulgaria remains a key NATO member on the Black Sea coast. The country’s leadership has rejected suggestions that it is pro-Russian, even as it navigates the complex security dynamics of the region. The fate of the missing sailors from the sunken vessel remains unknown, with search and rescue operations ongoing.
Source: BBC
