On Tuesday, two ships were targeted as a result of suspected Russian drone attacks off the coast of Bulgaria. These attacks led to the sinking of one ship and injured five crew members of another. These incidents are part of a series of ongoing attacks on maritime transport in the Black Sea that have been increasingly carried out by both sides involved in this conflict since early 2022.
Details of Recent Attacks
Rumen Radev, the Prime Minister of Bulgaria, announced the occurrence of these attacks in a press statement. According to him, the ships were targeted outside the territorial waters of Bulgaria. At 01:30 local time, a coastal commercial ship named "Chelsea 3," managed by Ukraine, made an emergency call and reported that it had been targeted three times by drones. 15 crew members of this ship were rescued and taken to the port of Varna, where five of the crew required medical attention.
Read more: Drone attack on commercial ships in the Black Sea off Bulgaria
Consequences and Reactions
Radev also stated that his ministers were informed of another attack on a ship located about 17 nautical miles from Krapets. This ship, whose name has not yet been disclosed, sank, and only one crew member of this ship was rescued at the time of this announcement. Last week, a suspected drone attack also caused the sinking of a commercial ship off the coast of Bulgaria, resulting in 12 crew members falling into the sea and going missing. Another ship was severely damaged in this incident but remains afloat.
While Bulgaria has condemned these attacks and called for an end to the violence, officials in the country have yet to name any specific suspects. Radev stated, "We have no clear and convincing evidence to attribute responsibility to either side. However, I have previously stated that logic suggests the outcome favors the Russian Federation. Therefore, today I will summon the Russian ambassador for a meeting."
Last week, Iliana Iotova, the President of Bulgaria, called for greater cooperation in defense against drones at sea among the three NATO countries - Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey. She also suggested that other NATO countries should provide assistance in maritime surveillance and anti-drone technologies to defend the easternmost shores of this alliance.
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