A drone attack off the Bulgarian coast in the Black Sea sinks a cargo vessel and damages another, leaving 11 sailors missing. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev says only one person is rescued from the sunken ship, while 15 people are picked up from the other vessel, with rescue operations continuing.
Multiple outlets report the Maltese-flagged ship “Chelsea 3,” described as Ukrainian-owned, is among those hit and later sinks. Accounts vary slightly on details such as how many people were on board and the identities/nationalities of the crew, but they agree the attack involves drones and comes after a similar incident earlier in the week. Bulgaria announces it will summon Russia’s ambassador, framing the strikes as a serious security concern for commercial shipping and lives at sea in the region.
Outlets also describe the attacks as an escalation tied to Russia’s war in Ukraine, while stating the drones’ origin is not independently confirmed in the reporting. The incidents are treated as the second deadly sinking of a cargo vessel off the Bulgarian coast in about a week, drawing international condemnation and renewed focus on maritime safety in the Black Sea.
