Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, that drone attacks struck two merchant vessels in the Black Sea, resulting in the sinking of one ship. The incident occurred in the western Black Sea, prompting emergency rescue operations by Bulgarian authorities. Radev described the strikes as "absolutely unacceptable" and noted that the attacks took place in the immediate vicinity of Bulgarian territorial waters.
The attacks followed a similar incident reported on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, when drones hit two other ships within Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone. In that earlier event, a Togo-flagged cargo ship sank approximately 70 nautical miles off the town of Byala. While the crew of a second vessel, the Palau-flagged Able, was rescued, the crew of the sunken Togo-flagged ship was reported missing. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a joint investigation with the Bulgarian navy identified Russia as the party responsible for the Oct. 6 strikes, though Moscow did not comment.
In the most recent reported attack on Tuesday, Oct. 13, the Ukrainian-owned, Maltese-flagged vessel Chelsea 3 was hit by three drones approximately 18 nautical miles off the Bulgarian coast at 1:30 a.m. Prime Minister Radev reported that the 15-member crew, consisting of seven Ukrainians and eight Azerbaijanis, was rescued. Five crew members received medical treatment, but no serious injuries were reported. A second vessel, identified by Vice President Iliana Iotova as the Guinea-Bissau-flagged cargo ship HS Dignity, sank off the coast of the village of Krapets. Rescuers saved five people from that vessel, while 11 others remained missing.
Prime Minister Radev stated there was no clear evidence identifying the perpetrator of the Oct. 13 attacks, but he noted the outcome benefited Russia and announced that the Russian ambassador would be summoned. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the alliance would monitor the security environment and adjust its deterrence and defense posture as needed along the eastern flank. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the strikes, stating that the Black Sea has become an additional front for escalation in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
The scale of these attacks introduces changes to the day-to-day operations of the shipping industry. According to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, targeting civilian vessels increases risks, insurance premiums, and transport costs for global trade. These factors contribute to price fluctuations in global food markets, as the Black Sea is a critical route for grain exports. Captains and operators have been officially advised by maritime security firms to maintain high-readiness watches for drone activity.
The knock-on effects extend to international security policy and diplomatic relations between NATO and Russia. As Bulgaria is a NATO member, attacks within its economic zone test alliance protocols regarding the protection of sovereign interests and international waters. Bulgarian authorities and NATO officials have indicated that monitoring will continue, with rescue operations ongoing and the summons of the Russian ambassador serving as the next immediate diplomatic step. Missing crew members remain the subject of active search efforts.