Drone attack sinks ship off Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, PM says

Two ships were deed successful the attack, including the Ukrainian-owned Chelsea 3, which sustained damage.

Two ships person been deed successful drone attacks disconnected Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, with 1 of them sinking, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said.

The Ukrainian-owned Chelsea 3, which was sailing nether a Maltese flag, was deed by 3 drones and damaged astir 18 nautical miles (33km) disconnected Bulgaria astatine astir 1:30am connected Tuesday (22:30 GMT connected Monday), Radev said.

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Radev said its 15-man crew, 7 of them Ukrainians and 8 Azerbaijanis, was rescued. Five unit members received aesculapian assistance, and nary 1 was earnestly injured.

He added that 1 unit subordinate from the vessel that sank was besides rescued.

Radev called the incidental “absolutely unacceptable”.

“Another onslaught successful the contiguous vicinity of Bulgarian territorial waters,” helium said successful a televised address.

Radev besides said determination was nary wide grounds of who carried retired the attack, but “the result benefits” Russia and that the Russian ambassador would beryllium summoned implicit the incident.

As a subordinate of the NATO subject alliance, Bulgaria holds a strategical presumption connected the Black Sea, wherever Russia and Ukraine person captious ports.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the onslaught connected the ships.

“The Black Sea has go different beforehand of escalation of the Russian warfare successful Ukraine,” she said.

“This is unacceptable. I powerfully condemn the drone attacks connected merchant ships adjacent Bulgaria’s coast. Putting the lives of the unit successful sedate information and threatening information successful the Black Sea,” she wrote connected X.

“We basal with Bulgaria and convey its rescuers for their swift response. Those liable should beryllium held accountable,” von der Leyen added.

NATO main Mark Rutte said the confederation would set its defences “as needed” pursuing the incident.

“NATO volition proceed to enactment intimately with our allies successful the Black Sea. We person already strengthened our posture on the eastbound flank and volition proceed to show the information environment, adjusting our deterrence and defence posture arsenic needed,” Rutte said connected X aft talking to Radev.

The incidental comes arsenic concerns turn implicit hybrid attacks involving Russia.

Last week, drones deed 2 ships disconnected Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, causing 1 to sink. All 10 unit members from the vessel that sank remain unaccounted for.