{
  "id": 14142294,
  "title": "Drones hit more merchant ships off Bulgaria - media",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/drones-hit-more-merchant-ships-off-bulgaria-media",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-13T07:18:59.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Interfax-Ukraine",
    "slug": "interfax-ukraine",
    "url": "https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/1218951.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Three drones attacked the merchant ship Chelsea 3, a 136-meter vessel sailing under the Maltese flag and registered at Odesa, approximately 15 nautical miles from Byala, according to Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev. The incident was reported at 1:30 am, prompting the evacuation of all 15 crew members to Varna. Seven crew members were Ukrainian, while eight were Azeri. Five seamen sustained injuries and received medical attention. The ship had departed from Giresun, Turkey, and was bound for Giurgiulesti, carrying cargo destined for Moldova. Currently, the ship is adrift off Cape St. Athanasius, with its crew absent. This marks the third drone attack on merchant ships near Bulgaria's territorial waters in the Black Sea, following incidents involving the Alfa Watan and Able ships in early October. Prime Minister Radev expressed strong condemnation of such actions, emphasizing that any further attack on merchant ships in Bulgarian waters is intolerable. An emergency Security Council meeting was convened in light of the latest incident, with the ship's sinking about 17 nautical miles east of Kropets resulting in the rescue of a single crew member. Radev plans to discuss the matter with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and summon the Russian Ambassador to Sofia, Eleonora Mitrofanova.",
  "summary": "The merchant ship Chelsea 3, sailing under the Maltese flag and registered at the port of Odesa, was attacked by three aerial drones about 15 nautical miles from the city of Byala, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said, Bulgarian National Radio reported.",
  "key_points": [
    "Three drones attacked merchant ship Chelsea 3 near Bulgaria",
    "15 crew members evacuated, 5 injured in incident",
    "Bulgaria condemns drone attacks, calls for NATO response"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Euronews",
        "title": "Two ships hit by drones in Black Sea, one sank, Bulgaria's PM says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/two-ships-hit-by-drones-in-black-sea-one-sank-bulgarias-pm-says",
        "published": "2026-10-13T05:33:45.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Kyiv Independent",
        "title": "'Absolutely unacceptable' — Commercial vessel hit by drones near Bulgaria's Black Sea coast, says Prime Minister Radev",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/absolutely-unacceptable-commercial-vessel-hit-by-drones-near",
        "published": "2026-10-13T08:22:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Ajel English",
        "title": "EU chief condemns drone attacks on Black Sea shipping near Bulgaria",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/eu-chief-condemns-drone-attacks-on-black-sea-shipping-near-bulgaria",
        "published": "2026-10-13T08:25:45.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBC News",
        "title": "Drones hit ships in Black Sea, sinking 1 and prompting rescue, Bulgaria says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/drones-hit-ships-in-black-sea-sinking-1-and-prompting-rescue-bulgaria",
        "published": "2026-10-13T08:44:15.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Voice of Ukraine",
        "title": "Drones strike Malta-flagged ship off the coast of Bulgaria; Ukraine’s FM responds",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/drones-strike-malta-flagged-ship-off-the-coast-of-bulgaria-ukraines",
        "published": "2026-10-13T08:45:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "Bulgaria seeks Nato support after Black Sea drone strikes hit merchant ships, sinking 1",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/bulgaria-seeks-nato-support-after-black-sea-drone-strikes-hit",
        "published": "2026-10-13T09:57:40.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}