A merchant vessel has sunk and its crew remains missing following a suspected drone attack in NATO member Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea, according to The Independent. The overnight strike targeted two commercial vessels roughly 70 nautical miles east of the coastal town of Byala, marking an unprecedented escalation in waters near Bulgarian territory.
Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced in a televised statement that the Togo-flagged general cargo vessel Alfa Watan sank during the assault. A nearby Bulgarian ro-ro passenger vessel, the Dioscuria, witnessed the explosion and moved toward the site, discovering an overturned boat, three life rafts, and life jackets. Authorities confirmed that no survivors had yet been located from the sunken vessel.
A second ship, the Palau-flagged general cargo vessel Able carrying grain, was also struck and caught fire. Bulgarian emergency responders successfully evacuated all 18 crew members—comprising Turkish and Indian nationals—with two injured sailors transported to Varna aboard a Bulgarian Navy vessel for medical treatment, as reported by Outlook India.
Emergency Operations and Institutional Reactions
Bulgaria launched an extensive search-and-rescue operation led by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Varna. The mission involves the Bulgarian Navy, Air Force, Border Police, and maritime administration, with two helicopters from the 24th Air Base placed on standby alongside a Su-25 reconnaissance aircraft.
Prime Minister Radev strongly condemned the incident, calling the strikes within Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone a serious breach of international law and maritime practice. While Bulgarian officials did not immediately name the perpetrator, Radev pointed to the broader context of the ongoing war in Ukraine, warning that the conflict continues to expand its geographical scope and increases the risk of wider escalation, according to BBC.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also condemned the violence, writing on social media that commercial ships and innocent crews are being targeted with lives lost at sea, describing the situation in the Black Sea as increasingly concerning.
Broader Regional Security and Maritime Risks
The incident follows a string of security disruptions across the Black Sea grain and energy trade corridors since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Maritime security analysts note that civilian shipping faces heightened risks from stray mines and aerial drones operating far from frontline ports. Bulgarian authorities are additionally monitoring a separate drifting vessel that lost its steering system, while remaining vigilant for potential marine pollution stemming from the damaged ships.