Two merchant ships hit by drone attacks off Bulgarian coast

On Tuesday, October 13, 2026, two cargo ships were struck by drones off the coast of Bulgaria in the Black Sea. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev reported that the Ukrainian-owned, Maltese-flagged vessel "Chelsea 3" was targeted by three drones around 1:30 a.m. (2230 GMT) approximately 18 nautical miles from the coast. All 15 crew members—seven Ukrainians and eight Azerbaijanis—were rescued and transported to the port of Varna, with five receiving minor medical treatment.

A second, unidentified cargo ship, identified by local media as the "Azov Concord," was struck approximately 17 nautical miles east of Krapets and subsequently sank. While five crew members from this ship were reportedly rescued, 11 sailors remain missing.

Prime Minister Radev characterized the attacks as "absolutely unacceptable" and stated he intends to summon the Russian ambassador and consult with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. While Bulgaria has not formally accused Moscow, officials noted the outcome benefits the Russian Federation. The incident has drawn condemnation from the European Union and Ukraine, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen demanding accountability for the escalation in the Black Sea, which remains a critical route for global food security.