The word “truce”, referring to the Russia-Ukraine war, increasingly appears to be an empty box. The Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Rumen Radev, announced that two ships were hit by drones in the Black Sea, off the Bulgarian coast. The episode comes a few days after October 6, when other boats were targeted in the same waters. Radev speaks of an “unacceptable attack”.
Ships hit by drones in the Black Sea
The alarm was raised during the night between 12 and 13 October, when the vessel Chelsea 3 sent a distress call while it was approximately 18 nautical miles east of Byala. The ship – flying the Maltese flag, registered in Odessa and owned by Ukraine – was hit on the deck and side by three aerial drones.
“All 15 crew members, seven Ukrainian and eight Azerbaijani citizens, were safely transported to the port of Varna. Five of them received medical assistance,” Radev wrote. The prime minister also made it known that, during an extraordinary meeting of the Security Council, information also arrived that another vessel had been hit 17 nautical miles east of Krapets. The ship sank and one crew member was rescued.
The latest attack on a commercial vessel in the immediate vicinity of Bulgaria’s territorial waters is absolutely unacceptable.
At 01:30, a distress call was received from a vessel 18 nautical miles east of Byala. According to the crew, the Chelsea 3—sailing under the Maltese flag, registered in Odesa and Ukrainian-owned—was struck on its deck and side by three aerial drones. All 15 crew members—seven Ukrainian and eight Azerbaijani nationals—were safely transported to the port of Varna. Five are receiving medical assistance.
Our Permanent Representatives to NATO and the EU have been informed. Bulgaria continues to seek support for an investigation into the attacks to determine the country of origin of the drones. We are also seeking assistance to strengthen surveillance of the air and maritime domains and enhance our response capabilities.
We do not have clear and conclusive evidence to attribute responsibility to either side. However, as I have already stated, the logic suggests that the outcome benefits the Russian Federation. I will therefore summon the Russian Ambassador for a meeting today.
At an extraordinary meeting of the Security Council under the Council of Ministers, we also received information about another vessel, struck 17 nautical miles east of Krapets. It sank, and one crew member was rescued.
— Rumen Radev (@RumenRadevPM) October 13, 2026
The alert is maximum. Radev explained that the permanent Bulgarian representatives to NATO and the EU have been informed. Bulgaria is in fact seeking support for an investigation into the attacks, to determine with certainty the origin of the drones. Although there is no official evidence yet, the prime minister’s idea is clear: “Logic suggests that the outcome is to the advantage of the Russian Federation. Therefore, I will summon the Russian ambassador for a meeting today. We are also requesting assistance to strengthen surveillance of air and maritime spaces and to enhance our response capabilities.”
“NATO will continue to collaborate closely with its Allies in the Black Sea area. We have already strengthened our posture along the eastern flank and will continue to monitor the security environment, adapting our deterrence and defense posture as necessary”, writes NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on X.
The president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen is even clearer. The Black Sea “has become another front of escalation of the Russian war in Ukraine. It is unacceptable”, he says via social media. And he reiterates: the attacks “put the lives of the crews in grave danger and threaten security in the Black Sea. We stand with Bulgaria and thank the rescuers for their prompt response. Those responsible will have to be held accountable”.
The Black Sea has become another front of escalation of the Russian war in Ukraine.
This is unacceptable.
I strongly condemn the drone attacks on merchant ships near Bulgaria’s coast.
Putting the lives of the crew in grave danger and threatening security in the Black Sea.
We stand with Bulgaria and thank its rescuers for their swift response.
Those responsible should be held accountable.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) October 13, 2026