Ship sinks and crew missing after Black Sea drone attack

A civilian cargo ship, the Alfa Watan, sank and its crew remains missing after being targeted by drones in the Black Sea, according to Bulgarian officials. A second vessel carrying grain, the Able, was also hit within Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone, with its 18 crew members rescued, Prime Minister Rumen Radev reported. The cause of the attacks remains unknown, as Russia has not commented on the incident.

Bulgarian officials stated that the attacks are a clear violation of maritime law. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of striking a civilian vessel carrying corn, while EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the attacks as unacceptable. The attacks occurred around 03:00 (23:00 GMT) off the eastern Bulgarian coastal town of Byala, approximately 70 miles (112 km) from the shore.

The sunken ship, registered under the flag of Togo, was a Turkish-owned general cargo ship heading towards Sulina, Romania. The rescue operation is ongoing, with Bulgarian sailors rescuing the crew from the second ship, the Able, which was flying the Palau flag and transporting grain. Eleven crew members were Turkish, while seven were Indian nationals.

Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea spans just over 29,000 square kilometers (11,197 square miles). A separate incident near Odesa resulted in one crew member's death and seven injuries.