ISW: Russia uses Estonia border moves to portray NATO as escalating tensions
Russian State Duma officials are using reports that Estonia is strengthening its border with Russia as a tool of cognitive warfare to portray NATO as the side “escalating” tensions and provoking conflict, the Institute for the Study of War said in its Oct. 5 assessment.
On October 5 and 6, two merchant ships were destroyed by drones in the Black Sea, and a third was set ablaze. This incident occurred in the economic zones of NATO members Romania and Bulgaria, killing at least two sailors. Meanwhile, Ukraine blamed Russia for the first attack. Neither Romania nor Bulgaria has publicly named the attacker, allowing Moscow to avoid any political repercussions.
The first incident happened off the Romanian coast near the Pescăruș offshore platform. The Royad Mammadov, a Turkish-owned grain ship, caught fire and sank, with 11 crew members rescued while two died. Adrian Mihălcioiu, leader of Romania's Free Seafarers Union, claimed Russian drones were responsible. The attack was described as a fire on board by Romania's Interior Ministry.
A day later, on October 6, Bulgaria also experienced drone attacks. The Togo-flagged Alfa Watan, on its way from Al-Arish, Egypt, to Sulina, Romania, sank after being hit by drones in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone. Additionally, the Palau-flagged Able caught fire near the Romanian port of Galați, with its 18 crew members rescued by the Dioscuria. Neither of the ships involved in this attack was identified. Bulgarian authorities suspect Russia as the culprit.
Written by urgent.news from Euromaidan Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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