Bulgarian Prime Minister Reports Drone Strikes on Two Commercial Vessels in Black Sea EEZ
Two merchant ships were hit by drones in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone, causing one to sink and another to catch fire, officials said.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced that drones attacked two commercial vessels on Tuesday in the country's exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea, about 80 miles (128 km) off the coast. The first ship, the Alfa Watan, flagged under Togo, suffered critical structural damage and sank immediately. The second vessel, the Able, sailing under the Palau flag, caught fire; its 18-member crew was rescued by a Bulgarian ferry, with two sailors sustaining severe injuries and being taken to a hospital in Varna. Radev said the origin of the drones has not yet been identified. This incident marks the first attack on shipping within Bulgaria's EEZ.
"The attacks were carried out by several drones and resulted in significant damage to the vessels," Radev told reporters after an emergency government meeting.
The incident follows heightened security concerns in the region, though no group has claimed responsibility.