A Guinea-Bissau-flagged cargo ship sank after being struck by drones off Bulgaria's Black Sea coast, leaving eleven crew members missing.
The incident marked the second drone attack on merchant vessels in the area within a week.
Details of the attacks
A second vessel, the Malta-flagged Chelsea-3, was hit by three drones about 18 nautical miles off the coast; all fifteen crew were rescued, with five receiving medical treatment but none seriously injured.
One crew member from the sunken ship was also rescued, according to Radev.
The identity of the second ship was not given and it remained unclear whether Chelsea-3 was the vessel that sank.
'This is absolutely unacceptable - another attack in the immediate vicinity of Bulgarian territorial waters,' Radev said.
He said there was no clear evidence showing who was behind the attacks, but noted the outcome benefits the Russian Federation and that he would summon the Russian ambassador and speak with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
A week earlier, drones struck two merchant ships in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone, sinking the Togo-flagged Alfa Watan and damaging the grain ship Able.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy blamed Russia for that attack; Russia denied involvement and said an investigation was needed to determine the origin of the drones.
Bulgaria, a NATO member on the Black Sea, lies near major ports of both Russia and Ukraine.
The Black Sea is an important route for grain and other goods, especially exports from Ukraine, and further attacks could put vessels operating in the region at greater risk.
Ukraine and Russia are among the world's largest exporters of grain; Russia has been bombing Ukraine's Black Sea ports, forcing Ukraine to rely increasingly on Danube river ports and routes close to the coasts of Bulgaria and Romania, while Ukraine has increasingly targeted Russian grain-exporting ships in other parts of the Black Sea and the Azov Sea.
Such incidents typically lead to higher war-risk premiums and prompt owners to reassess routing options.
For shipowners, charterers and brokers, the renewed drone threat underscores the need for enhanced surveillance, careful route planning and close monitoring of insurance coverage in the Black Sea trade.
Cover image: Alexxx Malev, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
As Editor in Chief of The Maritime, I lead content development, interviews, and digital storytelling across our multimedia maritime platform. With over 10 years of experience in the maritime industry, I create and publish in-depth stories and video features that highlight key players, emerging trends, and operational realities across global shipping. Before launching The Maritime, I worked as a Vessel Operator at Imza Marine A.S., gaining hands-on commercial shipping and voyage operations experience. I also served as Marketing Communications Specialist at Gimas Ship Supply & Services, where I managed corporate communication, digital strategy, and industry outreach for shipowners and maritime clients. I hold a Master’s degree in Maritime Transportation Management from Istanbul Technical University and a Master’s degree in Publishing from Marmara University. My work is driven by the belief that the maritime world deserves strong, informed, and accessible media representation. I am committed to sharing the stories of maritime professionals and contributing to the sector’s visibility, knowledge exchange, and future development.
