Drones hit ships in Black Sea, sinking 1 and prompting rescue
operations, Bulgaria says
[October 14, 2026]
SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Drones struck two ships in the Black Sea off
Bulgaria on Tuesday, sinking one and prompting emergency rescue
operations, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said.
The Guinea-Bissau-flagged cargo ship Dignity sank after it was hit by a
military strike. Five sailors were rescued, while a search for the other
11 crew members continued, Varna district Gov. Mario Smrkov said.
Rescuers evacuated all 15 crew members from the Ukrainian-operated
coastal freighter Chelsea 3, sailing under the Maltese flag, with five
receiving treatment for minor injuries, Radev said in a video posted to
social media.
The crew, which included seven Ukrainian citizens and eight Azerbaijani
citizens, reported the ship’s deck and hull were hit by three aerial
drones.
The strikes on the two ships happened 20 miles and 21 miles (32 and 34
kilometers) from the Bulgarian coast.
During an emergency meeting of Bulgaria’s Security Council on Tuesday,
Radev called the attacks “absolutely unacceptable” and said Bulgaria was
seeking NATO and European Union assistance.
While authorities do not possess clear evidence on who was responsible
for the drone attacks, “it makes no sense for Ukraine to destroy its own
ships in the Black Sea, and the results of these strikes favor Russia's
interests,” Radev told the Russian Ambassador in Sofia during a meeting
on Tuesday, the government’s press office reported.
The ambassador said she does not have any information from the Russian
defense ministry related to the recent attacks on commercial vessels in
the Black Sea but added that she did not rule out the possibility that
“these attacks represent a provocation by a third party.”
Radev has said that such attacks are unacceptable and that Bulgaria will
continue to investigate the attacks together with its EU and NATO allies
to establish the truth.
Radev said Bulgaria is suffering significant economic and financial
damage and added that his country will initiate talks with neighboring
Romania and Turkey on joint proposals to guarantee the safety of
shipping in the Black Sea.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha in a post on X on Tuesday
blamed Russia for the attacks.
“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 wrote.
“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 wrote.
“NATO will continue to work closely with our Allies in the Black Sea,”
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte wrote on X. He added that NATO had
already strengthened its posture along the eastern flank and will
continue to monitor the security environment, adjusting its deterrence
and defense posture as needed.
[to top of second column]
|
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev speaks during a handover
ceremony of the remains of medieval ruler Czar Samuel, in
Thessaloniki, northern Greece, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Giannis
Papanikos)
The United Nations condemns attacks on civilian ships, especially
the most recent ones off the coast of Bulgaria, U.N. spokesman
Stephane Dujarric said Tuesday.
“It’s very worrisome because these attacks on ships carrying grain,
food and other products destined for the global market have
multiplied and have expanded recently,” Dujarric said. "It has a
terrible knock-on effect on the price of commodities worldwide when
you’re also seeing the situation around the Strait of Hormuz, in the
Red Sea, not to mention the risk — and also the fatal risk faced by
seafarers."
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen “strongly
condemned” the drone incidents and said the Black Sea “has become
another front of escalation” in Russia’s war in Ukraine.
“This is unacceptable. I strongly condemn the drone attacks on
merchant ships near Bulgaria’s coast. Putting the lives of the crew
in grave danger and threatening security in the Black Sea,” she said
in a post on X.
“We stand with Bulgaria and thank its rescuers for their swift
response. Those responsible should be held accountable.”
European Council President Antonio Costa said in a social media post
that the EU stood in full solidarity with Bulgaria following the
attacks. He said the growing number of Russian hybrid activities
would be discussed at the European Council meeting scheduled for
Thursday and Friday in Brussels.
The attacks came exactly a week after sea and aerial drones attacked
two other commercial vessels in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone
in the Black Sea. A Togo-flagged ship sank, while a Bulgarian ferry
evacuated the 18-member crew of a Pulau-flagged vessel.
A day earlier, a Turkish-owned cargo ship carrying corn caught fire
following a drone attack and later sank in the Black Sea off the
coast of Romania. Two people died and 11 crew members were rescued,
Romanian authorities said.
All contents © copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved
 |
