Drone Attack Rocks Bulgaria’s Black Sea Waters, Ship Sinks

Two merchant ships were struck by drones in Bulgaria's Exclusive Economic Zone in the Black Sea, with one vessel sinking and the 18-member crew of the other rescued, according to information from Bulgarian and Romanian authorities.

The large-scale rescue operation is taking place east of Cape St. Atanas and the town of Byala, about 80 miles offshore. The incident is the first reported drone attack on vessels within Bulgaria's Exclusive Economic Zone, according to BGNES, BNR, Maritime.bg and NOVA.

The targeted vessels were the Togo-flagged general cargo ship ALFA WATAN (IMO: 7510884) and the Palau-flagged general cargo ship ABLE (IMO: 9001136).

The ALFA WATAN suffered critical structural damage and sank east of the Bulgarian coast. Initial reports said there was no official information about the fate of its crew, while the Romanian Ministry of Internal Affairs later reported two fatalities and 11 people rescued in connection with the incident.

The ABLE caught fire after being struck, forcing all 18 members of its crew to abandon the vessel. The sailors were taken aboard the Bulgarian-flagged ro-ro/passenger ferry DIOSCURIA (IMO: 7931997), which was diverted to the scene to assist the distressed crews.

Some of those rescued were injured and received initial first aid aboard the DIOSCURIA. The Bulgarian crew and rescue units on duty are coordinating their emergency evacuation to medical facilities on shore.

Romanian Coast Guard vessels and a helicopter operated by the General Inspectorate of Aviation are also taking part in the search and rescue operation, while the injured have been transported for emergency medical treatment, according to the Romanian Ministry of Internal Affairs.

BNR reported that neither of the ships was Bulgarian-flagged, with one operating under the flag of Togo and the other under the flag of Palau. Maritime.bg reported that the attacks were coordinated and targeted commercial vessels in the area.

The circumstances of the incident and the ownership of the drones involved remain under investigation.

Prime Minister Rumen Radev is convening a meeting with representatives of state institutions over the attack on the two ships in Bulgaria's economic zone.

The meeting will include representatives of the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Environment and Water, the Office of the President and the security services.

Radev is scheduled to make a statement to the media at 11:15 a.m. at the start of the meeting.