Drone Strikes Hit Two Merchant Ships Off Bulgaria Coast
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev condemned drone attacks on two merchant vessels in the Black Sea and requested assistance from NATO and the European Union.
Two merchant vessels were struck by aerial drones in the Black Sea off the coast of Bulgaria on October 13, 2026. The Ukrainian-owned, Maltese-flagged cargo ship Chelsea 3 was hit by three drones approximately 18 nautical miles east of Byala. All 15 crew members were evacuated to Varna, where five received treatment for minor injuries.
A second, unidentified vessel sank approximately 17 nautical miles east of Krapets, leaving only one rescued crew member. Rumen Radev, the Prime Minister of Bulgaria, condemned the attacks as "absolutely unacceptable" and stated that the outcome of the strikes "benefits the Russian Federation."
While Radev noted there is currently no conclusive evidence to identify the perpetrators, he announced plans to seek explanations from Russian Ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova and consult with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The Bulgarian government is now seeking international assistance from NATO and the European Union to investigate the origin of the drones and enhance maritime and airspace surveillance.
