A drone attack on a merchant vessel in the Black Sea has left several sailors missing, according to Bulgarian officials. The incident occurred overnight, with two attacks reported on merchant vessels in the region. The Bulgarian government has summoned the Russian ambassador to discuss the attacks, which are believed to be connected to Russia.
The attack that resulted in the sailors going missing occurred on the Guinea-Bissau-flagged ship, the "HS Dignity". The vessel was sunk 15 nautical miles east of the Bulgarian village of Krapets, prompting an urgent search and rescue operation. The Bulgarian authorities are working to locate the missing sailors and determine the circumstances surrounding the attack.
Another vessel, the "Chelsea 3", which sails under the Maltese flag but is Ukrainian-owned, was also struck by drones in the same region. The ship was attacked by three drones as it sailed just 18 nautical miles off the coast of Byala, Bulgaria. All 15 crew members, including seven Ukrainian nationals and eight Azerbaijani nationals, were safely transported to the port of Varna.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev strongly condemned the attacks, which he indicated were likely connected to Russia. Radev stated that the country is seeking support for an investigation into the attacks to determine the country of origin of the drones. He also informed NATO allies and the European Union of the attacks and sought assistance to strengthen air and maritime surveillance and defense.
European Commission President Ursula von Der Leyen condemned the attack, stating that the Black Sea has become another front of escalation of the Russian war in Ukraine. She emphasized that those responsible for the attack should be held accountable. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also issued a statement, saying that the alliance will continue to work closely with its allies in the Black Sea and has already strengthened its posture along the eastern flank.
The Bulgarian government is working to determine the circumstances surrounding the attacks and to identify those responsible. Radev stated that he will summon the Russian Ambassador for a meeting to discuss the attacks. The incident has raised concerns about the security of the region and the impact of the conflict in Ukraine on neighboring countries.
The search and rescue operation for the missing sailors is ongoing, with Bulgarian authorities working to locate them and provide assistance. The incident has highlighted the need for increased vigilance and cooperation in the region to prevent similar attacks in the future.
Key points
- The attacks on the merchant vessels are believed to be connected to Russia.
- The Bulgarian government has summoned the Russian ambassador to discuss the attacks.
- The incident has raised concerns about the security of the region and the impact of the conflict in Ukraine on neighboring countries.
