Două nave comerciale au fost lovite de drone în Marea Neagră în apropierea coastei Bulgariei în cursul nopții de luni spre marți, rezultând în scufundarea uneia dintre ele și salvarea unui membru al echipajului de pe acea navă, potrivit premierului bulgar Rumen Radev și autorităților locale. Guvernul bulgar a solicitat asistență tehnică din partea Uniunii Europene și NATO pentru a investiga atacurile, în timp ce autoritățile de la Sofia au anunțat planuri de a consolida supravegherea spațiului aerian și a domeniului maritim.
Malta-Flagged Cargo Vessel Chelsea 3 Attacked off Biala
The general cargo ship Chelsea 3, sailing under the Maltese flag and owned by Ukrainian interests, was struck by three aerial drones shortly after midnight on Tuesday, hotnews.ro reported. The vessel was transiting from Turkey to the Republic of Moldova when it was hit approximately 15 to 18 marine miles east of the Bulgarian coastal town of Byala, according to regional administration data cited by BTA and Agerpres. The ship sustained damage to its deck and hull and was left slightly listing. A maritime rescue operation coordinated from Varna deployed a Border Police vessel to evacuate all 15 crew members—comprising seven Ukrainian and eight Azerbaijani nationals—who were safely brought ashore to Varna. Agerpres noted that five sailors received medical treatment for minor injuries.
Second Vessel Sinks off Krapets Leaving Twelve Sailors Missing
While response teams handled the Chelsea 3, a second commercial vessel was hit and subsequently sank approximately 17 marine miles east of Krapets, Reuters reported. Reuters updated the casualty figures to show that 11 to 12 crew members from the sunken ship are currently missing at sea, with emergency responders having rescued only a single crew member from that vessel so far. Bulgarian authorities have not yet released the full identity, cargo details, or complete crew manifest for the second vessel, leaving rescue operations active in the area.
Bulgarian Government Summons Russian Ambassador and Notifies NATO
Prime Minister Rumen Radev delivered a televised address on Tuesday morning describing the events as an unacceptable escalation in the immediate vicinity of Bulgaria’s territorial waters. Radev stated that although there is no conclusive forensic evidence pointing directly to the origin of the drones, the outcome clearly serves the interests of the Russian Federation. The prime minister announced plans to summon the Russian ambassador to Sofia, Eleonora Mitrofanova, for formal explanations. Radev also initiated direct consultations with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and notified European Union partners, requesting technical assistance for a formal international investigation into the attacks.
European Leaders and Ukrainian Diplomats Condemn Black Sea Escalation
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen issued a public statement on X condemning the incidents as a new front of escalation in the ongoing war in Russia against Ukraine, insisting that those responsible must face accountability. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sîbiha similarly took to X to condemn the strikes, stating that the attacks demonstrate a deliberate disregard for civilian lives by Moscow.
Previous Security Concerns in the Black Sea
These strikes follow a pattern of maritime volatility in the region.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Black Sea Drone Strikes
What was the name and flag of the first ship hit?
The vessel was the Chelsea 3, a general cargo ship registered in Odesa and sailing under the Maltese flag, according to Agerpres.
Where was the Chelsea 3 headed when it was attacked?
The ship was traveling from Turkey to the Republic of Moldova when it was struck by three aerial drones, Digi24 reported.
How many crew members were on board the Chelsea 3 and what was their nationality?
The crew consisted of 15 individuals—seven Ukrainian citizens and eight Azerbaijani citizens—all of whom were safely evacuated to Varna by the Bulgarian Border Police, according to Agerpres and hotnews.ro.
What is the status of the second vessel involved in the Tuesday incidents?
The second vessel sank off the coast near Krapets within minutes of being struck, leaving 12 sailors missing and only one crew member rescued by emergency responders, Reuters and Digi24 reported.
Have previous drone attacks occurred near the Bulgarian coast?
Yes, on October 6, two other commercial vessels were hit by aerial and maritime drones in the Bulgarian exclusive economic zone, an event that led to an emergency meeting of the Consultative Council for National Security chaired by President Iliana Iotova.
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