Bulgaria Suspects Russia In Black Sea Drone Attacks, Ends Search For 11 Sailors

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief

SOFIA/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Bulgaria said Wednesday it suspected Russia was behind a series of devastating drone attacks on commercial vessels near its Black Sea coast, while calling off a search-and-rescue operation for 11 sailors missing after one of the ships sank.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said Russia appeared to benefit from the attacks, which struck four commercial ships within a week, sinking two and leaving a total of 21 sailors missing, including 11 from Tuesday’s sinking. However, he acknowledged that authorities lacked conclusive evidence identifying those responsible.

The attacks have raised concerns within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) military alliance and the European Union, both of which count Bulgaria among their members, about the growing threat to commercial shipping near the borders of allied countries.

Bulgaria’s Transport Ministry confirmed that the search for 11 crew members of the Guinea-Bissau-flagged HS Dignity was terminated Wednesday afternoon after worsening weather conditions made further rescue operations unsafe.

SEARCH OPERATION ENDS

The vessel sank Tuesday approximately 17 nautical miles east of Krapets, near Bulgaria’s border with Romania, following a reported drone strike. Five sailors were rescued, while the missing crew members were reportedly from Syria and Egypt.

Rescuers resumed operations Wednesday morning but were forced to stop at 3 p.m. local time as strong winds, rough seas and poor visibility complicated the search. Authorities reported no additional survivors.

Radev condemned the attacks as unacceptable and said they threatened civilian shipping near Bulgarian territorial waters, raising concerns about the expanding impact of Russia’s war against Ukraine on neighboring countries.

“We lack solid, clear evidence to level accusations against any specific party; however … logic suggests the outcome works to the advantage of the Russian Federation,” Radev said.

RUSSIA FACES QUESTIONS

The Bulgarian leader summoned Russian Ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova and sought assistance from NATO and the European Union to investigate the incidents.

Mitrofanova said she had received no information from Russia’s Defense Ministry about attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea and suggested that a third party could have been responsible.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha directly accused Moscow of endangering civilian lives and threatening global food supplies through attacks on maritime traffic.

The latest attacks also damaged the Ukrainian-owned Chelsea 3, which sails under the flag of Malta, a European Union member state. The vessel was reportedly struck by three aerial drones near the Bulgarian coastal town of Byala on Tuesday.

SECOND SHIP STRUCK

All 15 sailors aboard, including seven Ukrainians and eight Azerbaijanis, were rescued, although five required medical treatment for minor injuries, Bulgarian authorities announced.

The incidents came exactly one week after drones struck two other commercial vessels off Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, sinking the Alfa Watan and leaving ten sailors missing.

Nine Syrians and one Egyptian were reported missing following that earlier sinking, while the crew of another vessel struck during the same series of attacks was rescued.

The European Commission, the European Union’s executive arm, condemned the attacks, describing the Black Sea as another area of escalation in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

NATO PROMISES RESPONSE

“The Black Sea has become another front of escalation of the Russian war in Ukraine,” wrote European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on social media platform X, calling for those responsible to be held accountable.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte spoke with Radev by telephone and pledged continued cooperation with Bulgaria and other alliance members to strengthen security in the region.

“We have already strengthened our posture along the eastern flank and will continue to monitor the security environment, adjusting our deterrence and defense posture as needed,” Rutte stressed.

Bulgarian Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov discussed the deteriorating security situation with his counterparts in Romania and Turkey, as Sofia sought international assistance to identify the origins of the drones and strengthen surveillance.

NATO COUNTER-DRONE PLANS

Bulgaria also expects to join a NATO counter-drone initiative by the end of October, Stoyanov said Wednesday, as Sofia seeks stronger protection for commercial shipping and infrastructure in the Black Sea.

The attacks occurred as commercial shipping in the Black Sea faces mounting threats from the war that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukrainian port infrastructure, while Ukraine has carried out strikes against Russian maritime assets, including warships and vessels linked to Moscow’s military and energy operations.

Both countries are major agricultural exporters, making the Black Sea a crucial transportation corridor for grain and other commodities destined for international markets.

With the latest rescue operation called off and investigators still seeking to establish responsibility, the attacks have raised concerns about further disruptions to international trade and the safety of civilian crews operating near the maritime borders of NATO member states.