Bulgaria Summons Russian Ambassador After Drone Attacks Sink Ship, 11 Missing

Syrian and Egyptian sailors are missing after suspected Russian drones struck two cargo ships off Bulgaria on Tuesday, sinking one vessel and prompting Bulgaria to summon the Russian ambassador.

The Guinea-Bissau flagged cargo vessel HS Dignity sank 17 nautical miles east of Krapets, leaving 11 sailors missing after five were rescued. The Bulgarian interior ministry stated the ship was traveling between Algeria and the Romanian port of Braila with Syrian and Egyptian nationals. The Syrian sailors syndicate reported 14 Syrians and two Egyptians on board, with four Syrians and one Egyptian rescued.

Another Ukrainian-owned cargo ship, the Chelsea 3, sailing under a Maltese flag, was hit by three aerial drones 16 or 18 nautical miles east of Byala. All 15 crew members aboard the Chelsea 3, including seven Ukrainians and eight Azerbaijanis, were rescued, with five receiving medical treatment for minor injuries. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev summoned Russian Ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova, stating that while there is no conclusive evidence, logic suggests the outcome works to the advantage of the Russian Federation.

Bulgarian Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said it would be illogical for the Ukrainians to strike their own ships and assumed the drones are Russian. Mitrofanova told Radev she had no information from Russia's defense ministry and suggested the strikes could have been a provocation by a third party. This incident marks the latest spillover from the Ukraine war in the Black Sea, following another attack a week prior where the Alfa Watan sank with 10 crew presumed dead. Bulgaria is seeking international assistance to investigate the attacks and determine the origin of the drones.