On October 9, 2023, the Bulgarian Navy dispatched a corvette named Verni to the area where two commercial ships were recently attacked. This operation aims to search for evidence of the attack and assess the condition of the ships in the Black Sea.
Details of the Attack and Search
Reports indicate that special teams from the Navy, upon entering an abandoned ship named Able, searched for evidence of the attack and assessed the condition of the ship. The team was able to examine the wreckage of the ship in approximately 30 minutes, although significant damage had been inflicted due to a severe fire. Military officials stated that no identifiable remains from the attacks or objects related to drones were found.
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Assessment of the Ships and Reactions
The Bulgarian Minister of Defense stated that without sufficient evidence, they cannot speculate about the source of the attack. While both Ukraine and Russia have denied involvement in the attack, Bulgarian officials emphasized that they are seeking more evidence. Additionally, reports indicate that Syria, which had nine crew members from the missing ship Alfa Watan, has called for an independent investigation into the matter. Bulgarian media have also reported on the European Union's pressure on the country to take further action regarding sanctions due to these attacks.
The Alfa Watan, which went missing on October 6, has been identified as a ship that loaded salt from Egypt and was supposed to head to Romania. This ship was also set to load wheat on its return journey. Bulgarian maritime officials have been monitoring the status of this ship and announced that there is a possibility of it sinking. However, on Thursday, the ship was identified 55 nautical miles northeast of Cape Emine, and its condition was reported to be generally stable.
Navy and Air Force teams returned to the ship Able and reported that the ship is moving with a cargo of wheat. Currently, the fate of this ship and the possibility of it sinking or continuing its journey remain uncertain. Bulgaria has announced that it will continue to monitor this incident but has refrained from identifying the source of the attack.
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