EU condemns drone attacks on ships near Bulgaria

A president of the European Commission today vehemently condemned the drone attacks on two merchant navy ships near the coast of Bulgaria in the Black Sea, considering that this is a new front of the Russian war in Ukraine.

“It’s unacceptable. I strongly condemn the drone attacks on merchant navy ships off the coast of Bulgaria, which put “the lives of crews at risk and threaten security in the Black Sea. We are on the side of Bulgaria,” said Ursula von der Leyen in a message spread across social networks.

Two ships were hit near the Bulgarian coast, Sofia’s Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced today, stressing that he intends to summon the Russian ambassador after attacks classified as “unacceptable”, and on which the Atlantic Alliance informed.

The first alert was issued by a ship in emergency and the crew was rescued.

The Black Sea has become another front of escalation of the Russian war in Ukraine. This is unacceptable. I strongly condemn the drone attacks on merchant ships near Bulgaria’s cost. Putting the lives of the crew in serious danger and Threatening security in the Black Sea. We stand with Bulgaria and thank its rescuers for their Swift response. These responsibility should be held accountable.

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) October 13, 2026

The Ukrainian vessel, registered in Malta, was “achieved by three air drones,” Radev said during an emergency meeting of the Bulgarian Security Council.

The Bulgarian Prime Minister also said that the second vessel hit sank, adding that “a crew member” was saved.

Last week, two merchant navy ships were hit by drones in the exclusive economic zone of Bulgaria on the Black Sea.

One of them sank and the crew, composed of nine Syrian citizens and an Egyptian, remains missing, while the 18 sailors on the second ship were rescued.

“ This new attack on commercial ships in the vicinity of Bulgarian territorial waters is absolutely unacceptable,” Rumen Radev said today.

According to the Bulgarian Government, the first attack took place 18 nautical miles east of Byala and the second one 17 miles east of Krapets.

The crew of the first vessel, the “Chesea 3” — registered in the Ukrainian port of Odessa — consisted of seven Ukrainian citizens and eight Azerbaijani natives.

The “Chesea 3” was towed to the Bulgarian port of Varna, with five of the crew receiving medical attention due to minor injuries.