Two commercial vessels have been struck by drones near Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, leaving one ship sunk and at least 16 sailors rescued. Sofia is seeking NATO assistance and summoning Russia’s ambassador, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warns that the war in Ukraine is spreading into another dangerous maritime confrontation.
SOFIA, Oct. 13 (BalkanView) — Two commercial ships were hit by drone attacks near Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast on Tuesday, sinking one vessel and prompting an emergency security response from Sofia, as the European Union warned of a dangerous escalation of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said the vessel Azov Concord sank approximately 17 nautical miles east of Krapets, near the country’s northern Black Sea coast. One crew member was rescued, while the fate of the remaining crew was not immediately clear.
A second vessel, the Maltese-flagged Chelsea 3, was struck near the coastal town of Byala, south of Varna.
All 15 sailors aboard Chelsea 3 — seven Ukrainian and eight Azerbaijani nationals — were rescued by Bulgarian border police, Radev said.
Five crew members received medical assistance for minor injuries.
The attacks took place close to Bulgaria’s territorial waters, within its exclusive economic zone, raising concerns about the safety of commercial shipping and the possibility of further incidents near NATO territory.
The origin of the drones has not been established.
Bulgaria summons Russian ambassador, seeks NATO support
Radev convened an emergency meeting of Bulgaria’s security services following the attacks and announced plans to summon Russian Ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova for talks.
He also said he would discuss the situation with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
According to the prime minister, Bulgarian authorities were seeking international assistance to identify the origin of the drones and strengthen surveillance of the country’s airspace and maritime approaches.
“We do not have clear evidence to accuse either side,” Radev said.
However, he argued that the outcome of the attacks appeared to benefit Russia.
His remarks stopped short of formally attributing responsibility to Moscow.
Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova condemned the repeated attacks near the country’s territorial waters, describing them as unacceptable and contrary to international law and the principles of safe navigation.
Petrova said she was maintaining contact with EU and NATO partners to seek assistance with the investigation, improve monitoring and strengthen Bulgaria’s response capabilities.
Maltese-flagged ship hit by three drones
The Chelsea 3, a commercial vessel associated with Ukrainian shipping interests in Odesa, was attacked in the early hours of Tuesday.
Radev said Bulgarian maritime authorities received a distress signal at approximately 1:30 a.m. local time from a vessel about 18 nautical miles east of Byala.
According to the crew’s account, three aerial drones struck the ship, hitting its deck and side.
Bulgarian rescue teams responded, and border police evacuated all 15 crew members.
The vessel was subsequently brought into the port of Varna.
Initial reports placed the attack approximately 15 nautical miles from the coast, equivalent to about 28 kilometres.
Bulgarian authorities have not publicly identified the drones’ launch location or established which party carried out the strike.
The second vessel, Azov Concord, was reported hit during the government’s emergency security meeting.
Radev said it had sunk approximately 17 nautical miles east of Krapets and that one crew member had been rescued.
Further information about the ship’s crew and the circumstances of its sinking was not immediately available.
Von der Leyen: Black Sea is becoming another front of the war
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen strongly condemned the attacks, warning that the conflict was increasingly threatening maritime security beyond Ukraine.
“The Black Sea has become another front of escalation in Russia’s war against Ukraine,” von der Leyen said.
She described the drone strikes against commercial vessels near Bulgaria’s coast as unacceptable, warning that they endangered civilian crews and threatened security throughout the Black Sea.
Von der Leyen expressed support for Bulgaria and praised the emergency services for their rapid response.
She also called for those responsible to be held accountable.
Her intervention reflects growing European concern about the security of shipping routes in a region where military operations, commercial trade and NATO interests increasingly intersect.
Bulgarian opposition demands stronger air defences
The attacks also triggered political criticism of Bulgaria’s response to the war and its preparedness against aerial threats.
Ivaylo Mirchev, a representative of Democratic Bulgaria, accused the country’s leadership of failing to respond firmly enough to Russian actions.
Speaking in parliament, Mirchev called for the Russian ambassador to be summoned immediately and for Moscow to be asked to commit to preventing attacks on commercial vessels near Bulgaria’s territorial waters and within its exclusive economic zone.
He also urged the government to initiate urgent NATO consultations and request additional air-defence capabilities along the Bulgarian coast.
Mirchev argued that Bulgaria lacked adequate protection against drones and other aerial threats.
His comments reflected growing pressure on the government to strengthen maritime surveillance and coastal defence.
Military expert warns of growing risks near NATO territory
Retired naval officer Vasil Danov, associated with Bulgaria’s Atlantic Council, said the attacks demonstrated the increasing vulnerability of commercial shipping near the country’s coast.
Speaking to Bulgarian National Television, Danov suggested that the vessels may have approached Bulgarian waters in the hope of receiving protection.
He said the incidents occurred within the area known under maritime law as the contiguous zone, extending up to 24 nautical miles from a country’s baselines.
Within that zone, coastal states have limited enforcement powers relating to matters such as customs, immigration, fiscal and sanitary regulations.
Danov argued that Bulgaria should strengthen its maritime monitoring and seek more effective protection through cooperation with NATO allies.
He also criticised the government’s previous approach to Russian security threats, although Bulgarian authorities have not established responsibility for Tuesday’s attacks.
Black Sea shipping faces mounting uncertainty
The latest incidents highlight the vulnerability of civilian maritime traffic in the Black Sea as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues.
Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey are NATO members with Black Sea coastlines, making maritime security an important concern for the alliance.
The attacks near Bulgaria occurred outside its territorial sea, which generally extends up to 12 nautical miles from the coast.
Nevertheless, the proximity of the strikes to Bulgarian territory has raised questions about maritime surveillance, emergency response and the protection of commercial shipping.
The incidents also create uncertainty for shipping companies operating in the region, particularly those transporting goods to and from Ukrainian ports.
Any sustained deterioration in maritime security could increase insurance costs, complicate shipping operations and affect regional trade.
For Bulgaria, the immediate priorities are identifying the perpetrators, supporting the affected crews and coordinating a response with European and NATO partners.
For the wider region, the attacks underline how military operations in the Black Sea can threaten commercial activity far beyond the immediate battlefield.
With one vessel sunk, another damaged and responsibility still undetermined, the latest escalation presents a new security challenge for NATO’s southeastern flank.