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Two civilian ships targeted off Bulgaria

A drone attack in the Black Sea hit two civilian cargo ships in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone. According to Bulgarian authorities, the Togo-flagged Alfa Watan sank and those aboard the vessel have not yet been reached, while the 18 crew members on the second ship were rescued.

The attacks were carried out with aerial and naval drones at around 03:00 local time, about 112 kilometers off the coast of Byala in eastern Bulgaria, officials said. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev did not name who was behind the incident.

Search continues for the sunken Alfa Watan

According to information shared by Radev, Alfa Watan was a Turkish-owned general cargo ship bound for the Romanian port of Sulina. No details were given about what it was carrying or how many people were on board.

When a nearby Bulgarian vessel reached the scene, it saw an overturned boat, lifeboats and life jackets. A search-and-rescue operation was then launched in the area.

18 people rescued from grain ship

The crew of the second ship, the grain carrier Able, which sails under the Palau flag, was rescued by Bulgarian seafarers. Officials said two people injured in a fire on board were among those saved.

Nationalities of the crew revealed

The Able's last reported position was about 9 kilometers from the Alfa Watan, it was said. All of the rescued crew members were brought out alive, though two were injured.

What is known about the 18 rescued people

  • 11 are Turkish citizens
  • 7 are Indian citizens

International reaction and rising tension in the region

Radev described the attacks as a clear violation of maritime law and said such an assault in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone was unacceptable. He also warned that if the war in Ukraine is not stopped, the geographic reach of the conflict could expand further.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also said targeting commercial ships and civilian crews was unacceptable. The incident came as Russia has stepped up attacks in the Black Sea, especially in its eastern part, while Moscow has not yet commented on the latest strike.

On Tuesday, a separate attack near Odesa in the Black Sea reportedly killed one crew member and injured seven others aboard a Marshall Islands-flagged vessel. The latest development pointed to growing risks for commercial shipping in the region.

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