SOFIA: Two ships have been struck off the coast of Bulgaria, one in a drone attack, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said Tuesday, a week after a similar incident.
Radev wrote on social media that a Ukraine-owned cargo ship was “hit by three aerial drones”, and shortly after another ship was hit and sank. He said he intended to summon the Russian ambassador over the “unacceptable” attacks.
“We lack solid, clear evidence to level accusations against any specific party; however… logic suggests the outcome works to the advantage of the Russian Federation,” he wrote.
Radev identified the first vessel as the Malta-flagged cargo ship Chelsea 3 and said all 15 crew members – seven Ukrainians and eight Azerbaijanis – had been rescued.
He said a second vessel was “struck” and one crew member had been rescued, but he gave no further details of the incident.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga directly blamed Russia for the attacks, denouncing what he called Moscow’s “deliberate disregard for civilian lives and maritime security in the Black Sea”.
EU chief condemns latest attacks on ships off Bulgaria
“The Black Sea is a lifeline for global food security. Russia is attacking it to weaponise hunger and hold the world hostage,” he posted on X.
Last week, two commercial vessels were hit in the Black Sea off Bulgaria in an attack widely blamed on Russia, though Bulgaria said the circumstances were unclear.