In brief
A Ukrainian‑owned merchant vessel was hit by three drones 18 nautical miles off the Bulgarian coast, leading to its sinking and the death of all 15 crew members. Prime Minister Rumen Radev summoned the Russian ambassador and called for NATO and EU assistance, while Ukraine blames Russia in a region already experiencing maritime attacks. Moscow has denied responsibility and recent conflicts have threatened grain supplies in the Black Sea. The incident underscores the escalating insecurity of commercial shipping amid the Ukraine war.
A Ukrainian‑registered merchant ship boarded the water after a drone strike near Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, killing all 15 crew members.
Prime Minister Rumen Radev said the vessel, which was 18 nautical miles from the town of Byala, was hit by three drones, leading to its complete sinking. One crew member was rescued, but the ship’s crew was lost.
A second ship was damaged 17 nautical miles east of the town of Krapets and later sank after a drone attack. Five crew members of that vessel sustained minor injuries.
Radev summoned the Russian ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova to the capital and called for NATO and EU assistance to investigate the attacks. He called the incidents "absolutely unacceptable" and warned that they could benefit the Russian Federation.
Ukraine has again blamed Russia for the attacks, with Foreign Minister Andrii Syriha accusing Moscow of deliberately endangering civilian maritime traffic. "The Black Sea is a lifeline for global food security," he said, calling for stronger action.
Moscow has denied responsibility, alleging that Ukraine is attacking its merchant ships, and has intensified strikes on vessels in the western Black Sea, citing claims that they are weapons transports. Meanwhile, Turkey has urged both sides to stop attacks and the United States and Europe have called for a naval ceasefire.
The incident heightens concern over maritime safety in a region that is already witnessing escalating air and sea attacks amid the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. The sinking of the ship and the losses underscore the fragility of the Black Sea seaway, which serves as a critical route for grain and other civilian cargoes.
