Drones sink ships in NATO countries' economic zones in Black Sea
Two cargo ships were sunk and a third damaged in the Black Sea within Bulgaria's and Romania's economic zones, killing at least two sailors. The EU's chief called the attacks unacceptable, while Ukraine's president blamed Russia.
For the first time, drone attacks have sunk two cargo ships and damaged a third in the exclusive economic zones of NATO member states. At least two sailors were killed. The incidents mark a notable escalation, as commercial shipping in the Black Sea has increasingly become a target during Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Attacks off Bulgaria
On October 6, multiple sea and aerial drones struck the Togo-flagged Alfa Watan and the Palau-flagged Able about 128 kilometers off Bulgaria's coast, the Associated Press reported. The Alfa Watan sank, and the fate of its crew was initially unknown. The Able caught fire; a Bulgarian ferry evacuated all 18 crew members, and two severely injured sailors were flown to a hospital in Varna.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev called the attack unacceptable and a blatant violation of international and maritime law.
Attack off Romania
A day earlier, on October 5, drones hit the Turkish-owned cargo ship Royad Mammadov in Romania's exclusive economic zone. The vessel caught fire and eventually sank. Romanian ships and helicopters rescued 11 crew members, one remains missing, and two were killed, according to Euronews.
Reactions
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the strikes as increasingly concerning and stressed that attacks on civilian shipping are unacceptable. She expressed full solidarity with member states on the eastern flank, but said the circumstances were still being established and did not name a likely attacker.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, citing a joint investigation with Bulgaria's navy, said the strikes were a Russian combined attack using sea and aerial drones. He added that Ukraine's military was not conducting operations in that part of the Black Sea. Russia has also been accused of carrying out hybrid warfare incidents elsewhere in Europe.
