Two ships struck off Bulgaria in latest Black Sea attack

On Tuesday, Bulgaria reported that two ships had been targeted off its coastline, prompting Prime Minister Rumen Radev to summon the Russian ambassador. Radev disclosed that a Ukrainian-owned cargo vessel, the Chelsea 3, was struck by three aerial drones, resulting in the swift rescue of all 15 crew members, consisting of seven Ukrainians and eight Azerbaijanis.

Shortly after, another ship was hit and subsequently sank, with only one crew member being rescued. While acknowledging the lack of definitive evidence pointing to a specific perpetrator, Radev suggested that the attacks favored Russia.

Ukraine's drone attack has triggered alarm, prompting Bulgaria to seek technical assistance from NATO and the European Maritime Safety Agency to ascertain the origin of the series of incidents. NATO chief Mark Rutte and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen both condemned the attacks, with von der Leyen emphasizing the escalation of the Russian war in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga denounced the strikes, accusing Russia of disregarding civilian lives and maritime security in the Black Sea. This surge in drone attacks across eastern European countries, including Bulgaria and Romania, has raised serious concerns about maritime safety and global food security.