![](\"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Drones-sink-ship-in-Black-Sea-unclear-who-launched-strike-Bulgaria-says-National-Globalnews.ca_.jpg\"){kind=spacer}
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Drones struck two ships in the Black Sea<\/a> off Bulgaria<\/a> on Tuesday, sinking one and prompting emergency rescue operations, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said.<\/p>\n The Guinea-Bissau-flagged cargo ship Dignity sank after it was hit by a military strike. Five sailors were rescued, while a search for the other 11 crew members continued, Varna district Gov. Mario Smrkov said.<\/p>\n Rescuers evacuated all 15 crew members from the Ukrainian-operated coastal freighter Chelsea 3, sailing under the Maltese flag, with five receiving treatment for minor injuries, Radev said in a video posted to social media.<\/p>\n The crew, which included seven Ukrainian citizens and eight Azerbaijani citizens, reported the ship\u2019s deck and hull were hit by three aerial drones.<\/p>\n The strikes on the two ships happened 20 miles and 21 miles (32 and 34 kilometers) from the Bulgarian coast.<\/p>\n Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n During an emergency meeting of Bulgaria\u2019s Security Council on Tuesday, Radev called the attacks \u201cabsolutely unacceptable\u201d and said Bulgaria was seeking NATO and European Union assistance.<\/p>\n While authorities do not possess clear evidence on who was responsible for the drone attacks, \u201cit makes no sense for Ukraine to destroy its own ships in the Black Sea, and the results of these strikes favor Russia\u2019s interests,\u201d Radev told the Russian Ambassador in Sofia during a meeting on Tuesday, the government\u2019s press office reported.<\/p>\n The ambassador said she does not have any information from the Russian defense ministry related to the recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea but added that she did not rule out the possibility that \u201cthese attacks represent a provocation by a third party.\u201d<\/p>\n Get daily Canada news delivered to your inbox so you’ll never miss the day’s top stories.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Radev has said that such attacks are unacceptable and that Bulgaria will continue to investigate the attacks together with its EU and NATO allies to establish the truth.<\/p>\n Radev said Bulgaria is suffering significant economic and financial damage and added that his country will initiate talks with neighboring Romania and Turkey on joint proposals to guarantee the safety of shipping in the Black Sea.<\/p>\n Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha in a post on X on Tuesday blamed Russia for the attacks.<\/p>\n \u201cRussia\u2019s latest attack on commercial vessels near Bulgaria\u2019s territorial waters, which injured Ukrainian and Azerbaijani citizens, once again demonstrates Moscow\u2019s deliberate disregard for civilian lives and maritime security in the Black Sea,\u201d Sybiha wrote.<\/p>\n Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cThe Black Sea is a lifeline for global food security. Russia is attacking it to weaponize hunger and hold the world hostage. This must be met with strength,\u201d Sybiha wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cNATO will continue to work closely with our Allies in the Black Sea,\u201d NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte wrote on X. He added that NATO had already strengthened its posture along the eastern flank and will continue to monitor the security environment, adjusting its deterrence and defense posture as needed.<\/p>\n The United Nations condemns attacks on civilian ships, especially the most recent ones off the coast of Bulgaria, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Tuesday.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/d21y75miwcfqoq.cloudfront.net\/70c8fc80\")
\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\nGet daily National news<\/h2>\n
\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"Click](\"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Drones-sink-ship-in-Black-Sea-unclear-who-launched-strike-Bulgaria-says-National-Globalnews.ca_-1.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t