Bulgarian PM says drone attack on 2 commercial vessels is ‘blatant violation of international law’
- On Tuesday, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev reported that sea and aerial drones struck two commercial vessels about 80 miles off Bulgaria's coast, sinking the Togo-flagged Alfa Watan and setting the Palau-flagged Able ablaze.
- This attack follows a Monday incident where a Turkish-owned cargo ship sank off Romania, killing two people. The Russia-Ukraine war increasingly disrupts Black Sea shipping, driving up insurance costs and threatening regional security.
- Radev denounced the strike as "an unacceptable attack in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone," violating international maritime law. Bulgarian ferry evacuated 18 crew members from the Able; two sailors suffered severe injuries and were flown to hospital in Varna.
- NATO referred inquiries regarding drone origins to Bulgarian authorities, citing insufficient evidence for attribution. Radev stated it remains unclear whether the drones originated from Russia or Ukraine, as investigations continue.
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the attacks, stating, "Commercial ships – and innocent crews – are being targeted, with lives already lost at sea." Radev warned the war could expand geographically, increasing global conflict risks.
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83 Articles
Last night, another cargo ship was hit by a drone attack in the Black Sea. This time near the coast of NATO member Bulgaria. The country's president warns that the war in Ukraine risks escalating out of control.
The Bulgarian government confirmed that drones hit two cargo ships in the Black Sea overnight on Tuesday, sinking one of them. The ships were flying the flags of Togo and Palau and were about 70 nautical miles off the Bulgarian coast.
Two commercial ships were hit by drones during the night of Monday to Tuesday in the Black Sea. One of them sank and his crew was reported missing. The incident took place in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone. - Ships hit by drones: what happens in the Black Sea? (International).
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