Drones Strike Ships in Black Sea, Sinking One and Prompting Rescue Efforts

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev confirms drone attacks on two ships in the Black Sea, sinking one and prompting emergency rescues. Russia's involvement ...

Editorial Desk

October 13, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Sofia, Bulgaria — Drones struck two vessels in the Black Sea off Bulgaria on Tuesday, resulting in the sinking of one ship and triggering urgent rescue operations, according to Prime Minister Rumen Radev.

The Maltese-flagged Chelsea 3 was hit by three drones, leading to the evacuation of all 15 crew members, with five receiving treatment for minor injuries. The crew included seven Ukrainian citizens and eight from Azerbaijan. One survivor was rescued from the sunken vessel, though details about the others were not provided. The attacks occurred 18 and 17 miles from the Bulgarian coast.

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Radev condemned the attacks as unacceptable and sought assistance from NATO and the European Union. While no evidence of who was responsible has been found, he suggested that the situation favors the Russian Federation. This incident follows similar drone attacks on commercial vessels in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone a week earlier.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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