Market Flux Event
Drone Strikes Sink One Ship and Hit Another in Bulgaria's Black Sea Economic Zone
Read this in the Market Flux appDrone attacks struck two commercial vessels in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone in the early hours of Tuesday, October 13, sinking one ship and injuring two crew members aboard the other, Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced. The incidents occurred roughly 80 miles, or about 24 kilometers, off Bulgaria's Black Sea coast near the city of Byala, with the first strike reported around 1:30 a.m. local time.
The Togo-flagged cargo vessel Alfa Watan sank following the attack, while the Palau-flagged Able caught fire after being struck. A third vessel identified by Bulgarian authorities as the Chelsea 3, a Ukrainian-owned cargo ship sailing under a Maltese flag, was also reported hit. No party has yet claimed responsibility for the drone strikes, and the cargo carried by the vessels had not been publicly identified at the time of reporting.
Bulgaria announced it would summon Russia's ambassador to Sofia in response. Radev warned that the attacks represented a serious escalation, saying the conflict was expanding geographically and driving up shipping insurance costs in the Black Sea region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attributed responsibility to Russia.
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Sources
- FirstSquawkBulgarian PM Radev: Drone Strikes Hit Two Ships in Black Sea Waters off Bulgaria, One Vessel Sinks
- PiQMarketsDrone attack sinks ship off Bulgaria coast, PM says A drone attack struck two commercial vessels in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone on Tuesday, sinking one ship and injuring two crew members on the other, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said. The attacks occurred about 80 miles off Bulgaria's coast in the Black Sea, with one vessel, the Togo-flagged Alfa Watan, sinking and the Palau-flagged Able catching fire.
- AJENewsBREAKING: Two ships were hit by drones off Bulgaria's Black Sea coast, with one sinking, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said. 🔴 More on
- ReutersDrone sinks Ukrainian-owned ship off Bulgaria's Black Sea coast, prime minister says
- Osint613Drones hit two ships roughly 24 km off Bulgaria's Black Sea coast on October 13. One vessel went down. No identification yet on where the ships came from, what they were carrying, or who launched the drones. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev.
- VonderleyenThe Black Sea has become another front of escalation of the Russian war in Ukraine. This is unacceptable. I strongly condemn the drone attacks on merchant ships near Bulgaria’s coast. Putting the lives of the crew in grave danger and threatening security in the Black Sea. We stand with Bulgaria and thank its rescuers for their swift response. Those responsible should be held accountable.