Drones sink ship off Bulgaria; NATO pledges Black Sea defense review

Drones attacked two merchant vessels in the Black Sea off Bulgaria's coast on October 13, 2026, sinking one and prompting emergency rescue operations. The first vessel, the Maltese-flagged Chelsea 3 (Ukrainian-owned, registered in Odesa), was hit by three drones approximately 18 nautical miles east of Byala at around 1:30 a.m. local time. All 15 crew members—seven Ukrainian and eight Azerbaijani nationals—were rescued and transported to Varna, where five received medical treatment. A second ship, identified as the Guinea-Bissau-flagged HS Dignity, sank approximately 17 nautical miles east of Krapets; five crew members were rescued but 11 remain missing as of the report.

The attacks mark the second such incident in one week. On October 6, unidentified drones sank one merchant vessel and set another on fire approximately 70 nautical miles east of Byala within Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone, resulting in the loss of nine Syrian sailors and one Egyptian crew member. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev convened an emergency security meeting and indicated Russia as a suspected party, stating that "the logic suggests that the outcome benefits the Russian Federation," though he acknowledged no conclusive evidence had been established. He summoned Russian Ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova, who denied involvement on behalf of Russia's Defence Ministry and suggested the attacks could represent provocation by a third party.

Bulgaria sought NATO and EU assistance to investigate the attacks, determine the origin of the drones, and strengthen its maritime and air surveillance capabilities. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed that the alliance would adjust its deterrence and defense posture in the Black Sea region "as needed" and would continue monitoring the security situation. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha attributed the attacks to Russia, citing Moscow's "deliberate disregard for civilian lives and maritime security." European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the strikes "unacceptable" and described the Black Sea as "another front of escalation of the Russian war in Ukraine," calling for accountability.