Drones strike two ships off Bulgaria: One sinks as PM Rumen Radev seeks NATO aid

Sofia: Drones struck two commercial cargo vessels in the Black Sea just outside Bulgarian territorial waters, causing one ship to sink and prompting emergency maritime rescue operations. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev confirmed that state authorities received an initial distress call at 01:30 local time from the Chelsea 3, a Maltese-flagged, Ukrainian-owned general cargo vessel registered in Odesa. According to official crew reports, the 136-metre ship was struck on its deck and side by three aerial drones approximately 18 nautical miles east of Byala while en route from Giresun, Türkiye, towards Giurgiulești.

Rescue Operations and Evacuation of Crew

Bulgarian Border Police and emergency maritime units successfully evacuated all 15 crew members from the Chelsea 3, which comprised seven Ukrainian and eight Azerbaijani nationals. The rescued sailors were safely transported to the port of Varna, where five individuals received medical treatment for minor injuries. Meanwhile, a meeting of the Security Council under the Council of Ministers revealed that a second vessel was struck by drones 17 nautical miles east of Krapets. The second ship sank following the strike, with maritime rescue personnel recovering one crew member as search efforts continued in the area.

Diplomatic Engagement and Investigation Demands

Prime Minister Radev strongly condemned the escalation, describing the targeting of commercial shipping in the immediate vicinity of Bulgarian waters as "absolutely unacceptable". While acknowledging that Sofia lacks clear, conclusive evidence directly identifying who launched the drones, Radev noted that logical analysis suggests the disruptions ultimately benefit the Russian Federation. Consequently, the Prime Minister announced plans to summon Russian Ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova for formal talks. Furthermore, Bulgaria’s permanent representatives to NATO and the European Union have been briefed to request technical assistance in investigating the drone origins and strengthening air and maritime surveillance across the western Black Sea.