Drone attacks hit two ships off Bulgaria; one sinks
Bulgaria says one crew member was rescued and that it is seeking NATO and EU assistance.
There is news on this story (Tuesday, 13 October 2026, 13:03): Bulgaria summons Russian ambassador after fresh drone strikes
Updates
Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Rumen Radev met Russia’s ambassador after the attacks and said their outcome benefited Russia, although authorities had no clear evidence identifying who was responsible. (Associated Press)
The number of crew members rescued from the sunken vessel rose to five, while 11 remained missing. All 15 crew members of the other ship were evacuated, with five treated for minor injuries. (The Guardian)
Two merchant ships were hit by drones near Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast on Tuesday, with one vessel sinking, according to Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev. The attacks are the latest in a series of incidents affecting commercial shipping in the region, but responsibility has not been established.
The first reported strike hit the Maltese-flagged Chelsea 3 at about 1.30am local time, roughly 18 nautical miles from Bulgaria’s coast, according to Al Jazeera, which cited Radev. The ship, described as Ukrainian-owned, was hit by three drones. Its 15-person crew, including seven Ukrainians and eight Azerbaijanis, was evacuated; five people received medical assistance.
A second vessel was later reported to have sunk about 17 nautical miles from the Bulgarian coast. Radev said one member of its crew had been rescued, but gave no details about how many people had been aboard or the condition of the rest of the crew. Rescue operations were continuing when the first reports were published.
Radev called the attacks unacceptable and said Bulgaria was seeking help from NATO and the European Union. He also said there was no clear evidence identifying the perpetrators, although he argued that the outcome benefited Russia. Bulgaria said it would summon the Russian ambassador for discussions.
Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, blamed Russia for what he called attacks on commercial vessels. Russia had not publicly responded in the reports available by Tuesday morning. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen condemned the incidents and said the Black Sea had become another area of escalation in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The attacks came a week after two other commercial vessels were hit in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone. One ship sank and another was damaged, according to the Associated Press. A separate Turkish-owned cargo ship carrying corn caught fire and later sank off Romania on Monday; Romanian authorities said two people died and 11 crew members were rescued.
Bulgaria is a NATO member and sits on a strategically important stretch of the Black Sea, where Russia and Ukraine both operate major ports. Repeated attacks on merchant shipping could increase insurance and security costs, although the reports do not establish whether the incidents are connected or how they might affect wider trade.
For Britain and its European allies, the immediate issue is the safety of civilian shipping and the risk of further escalation near NATO territory. The available reports record accusations and official reactions, not an independent finding about who launched the drones. No direct UK government response was included in the sources checked.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Two merchant ships were hit near Bulgaria on 13 October.
- One ship sank and one crew member from it was rescued.
- Bulgaria says the attacker has not been conclusively identified.
- Bulgaria is seeking assistance from NATO and the European Union.
Left
Arguments Britain and Europe should prioritise civilian protection, international law and diplomatic pressure, while avoiding steps that could widen the war without improving maritime safety.
Values Human security, accountability, international law and caution about escalation.
Consequences A measured response could protect shipping and preserve diplomatic space, but critics may fear that insufficient pressure would allow further attacks.
Centre
Arguments The first priority should be an independent investigation coordinated with NATO and European partners, followed by proportionate action based on evidence rather than assumption.
Values Institutional credibility, evidence, alliance coordination and proportionality.
Consequences This may reduce the risk of miscalculation, although a slower response could leave commercial shipping exposed in the meantime.
Right
Arguments Repeated attacks on merchant shipping require stronger deterrence, more surveillance and tougher consequences for whoever is responsible; otherwise Russia or other actors may see the region as low-risk.
Values National security, deterrence, freedom of navigation and military preparedness.
Consequences A firmer posture could improve protection and raise the cost of attacks, but it could also increase the danger of direct confrontation.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Priya Shah — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The article relies on two independent reports published on 13 October and attributes disputed claims clearly. It avoids treating Russian responsibility as established fact.
- confirmed Two merchant ships were hit by drones near Bulgaria on 13 October, with one sinking. — Reported by AP and Al Jazeera, both citing Bulgarian officials. source
- confirmed The Chelsea 3 was Maltese-flagged, Ukrainian-owned and hit by three drones. — Reported by Al Jazeera, citing the Bulgarian prime minister. source
- confirmed The Chelsea 3's 15-person crew was rescued and five people received medical assistance. — Reported by AP and Al Jazeera. source
- confirmed One crew member from the sunken vessel was rescued. — Reported by AP and Al Jazeera. source
- confirmed Bulgaria sought NATO and EU assistance and planned to summon Russia's ambassador. — Reported by AP; the NATO contact was also reported by Al Jazeera. source
- confirmed Russian responsibility has not been established. — Radev was reported as saying there was no clear evidence identifying the attacker. source
Editor's note
The strikes, rescue operation and Bulgarian response are confirmed by multiple reports. Responsibility remains unproven, and details about the sunken vessel’s crew are incomplete.Sources
The story so far
- Tuesday, 13 October 2026, 11:04 Drone attacks hit two ships off Bulgaria; one sinks (this article)
- Tuesday, 13 October 2026, 13:03 Bulgaria summons Russian ambassador after fresh drone strikes
More on this in other media
- iNews — „black sea”
- BBC News — „black sea”
- The Guardian — „black sea”