Drones strike two vessels off Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, prompting search for missing crew
Bulgarian authorities launched a search operation after two ships, including the Togo‑flagged Alfa Watan, were hit by drones in the Black Sea, causing one vessel to sink. Prime Minister Rumen Radev confirmed the rescue effort, while details about the drones’ origin remain unclear.
First reported 4 hours ago · latest update 19 minutes ago
Drones struck two merchant vessels operating in Bulgaria’s economic zone on the Black Sea on Tuesday, prompting an immediate response from Bulgarian authorities. The attacks occurred off the country’s Black Sea coast, an area that has seen heightened maritime activity in recent weeks.
One of the vessels was severely damaged and subsequently sank, while the other sustained damage but remained afloat. Prime Minister Rumen Radev confirmed that a rescue operation was under way to assist the crew of the sunken ship and to contain any environmental impact.
Bulgarian officials have launched a search for crew members who are missing after the incident. Efforts are focused on locating and retrieving the individuals who were aboard the vessel that went down, with search teams deployed in the affected area.
The origin of the drones that carried out the attacks has not been identified. Authorities have not provided information on whether the drones were launched from the sea, from land, or from any particular nation.
The incident adds to a series of disruptions to Black Sea shipping that have intensified in recent months as a result of the broader fallout from the war in Ukraine, which has increased risks to commercial navigation in the region.
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Drones Hit Ships Off Bulgaria’s Black Sea Coast, Prime Minister Says
A rescue effort was underway, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said, after one of the two ships sank. It was not immediately clear where the drones originated.
1 hour ago · Boryana Dzhambazova and Aurelien BreedenBulgaria searches for missing crew after drones hit two ships in Black Sea
Bulgaria launches search operation after Togo-flagged Alfa Watan sinks at scene of attack.
19 minutes agoBulgaria searches for missing crew as drones hit two Black Sea ships
Bulgarian authorities on Tuesday launched a search for missing crew members of a boat that sank in its economic zone in the Black Sea after drones hit two merchant vessels. Black Sea shipping has been hit by growing fallout from the war in Ukraine in recent months.
4 hours ago · FRANCE 24