Two commercial vessels were struck by drones in the Black Sea within Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone on Tuesday, sinking one Turkish‑owned grain carrier and forcing the other to be rescued by a nearby ferry. The incidents triggered a large‑scale rescue operation, with at least eleven crew members brought ashore and reports of two fatalities.
Incident details
According to Bulgarian state broadcaster BNT, the first drone strike hit a Turkish‑registered grain ship, causing it to take on water and eventually sink. The second strike damaged a separate Turkish‑owned cargo vessel, which remained afloat long enough for a civilian ferry to evacuate its crew. Some reports say the crew of the sunken ship is missing, while others confirm two crew members died and eleven were rescued (firstpost.com). The precise number of survivors varies across outlets, with Novinite noting the rescue of eleven sailors and bgnes.com emphasizing that the ferry saved the crew of the second vessel.
Both vessels were operating in international waters but within Bulgaria's 12‑nautical‑mile economic zone, a region that sees heavy transit of grain and energy shipments linked to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The attacks occurred near the Bulgarian coastline, prompting immediate alerts from maritime authorities and the deployment of coast‑guard units.
"Two vessels were hit by drones; one sank," BNT reported.
Political and regional response
Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Radev called an emergency cabinet meeting shortly after the strikes, urging a coordinated response and a review of national security protocols in the Black Sea (sofiaglobe.com). The government also announced heightened aerial surveillance of the area and a request for assistance from NATO allies, given Bulgaria's membership in the alliance.
Ukraine has publicly blamed Russia for the drone attacks. The Ukrainian foreign ministry, cited by DW and France 24, accused Moscow of using unmanned weapons to target commercial shipping that supports Kyiv’s export routes. Russian officials have not confirmed or denied involvement.
Turkey, whose flag flew on both vessels, expressed concern over the loss of its ship and the safety of its seafarers. Turkiyetoday.com highlighted that the sunken vessel was Turkish‑owned, and Turkish authorities are reportedly working with Bulgarian officials to locate any missing crew members.
The incident underscores the vulnerability of Black Sea trade routes amid the broader Russia‑Ukraine war. Bulgaria, a NATO member with a modest naval capability, now faces pressure to bolster its maritime defenses and protect the flow of grain and energy that passes through its waters.
International maritime organizations have called for a thorough investigation. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) have both urged parties to refrain from targeting civilian shipping, warning that such attacks could further destabilize global supply chains.
While the exact origin of the drones remains unverified, the convergence of Ukrainian accusations and Bulgaria's emergency response signals a potential escalation of the conflict into the Black Sea’s commercial corridors. The incident marks the most serious maritime security breach in Bulgarian waters since the war began in 2022.
