Cargo Ship Sunk Near Bulgaria After Drone Attack, Russian Ambassador to Be Summoned

Two merchant ships were struck by drones near Bulgaria's Black Sea coast overnight on October 12–13, with one vessel sinking after three direct hits, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev confirmed. He announced plans to summon Russia's ambassador for an explanation, though the origin of the drones has not yet been officially established.

CHELSEA 3 Sinks After Three Drone Hits

The Maltese-flagged cargo vessel CHELSEA 3 was struck by three aerial drones approximately 18 nautical miles east of the town of Byala. The ship subsequently sank. All 15 crew members were successfully evacuated before it went down.

Bulgaria Summons Russian Ambassador

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced his intention to summon Russia's ambassador to Sofia for explanations. The incident marks a serious escalation, as Bulgaria is both a NATO and EU member state, making an attack in its adjacent waters an attack near alliance territory.

Origin of Drones Not Yet Established

As of the morning of October 13, authorities had not officially confirmed the origin of the drones. The attack took place in international waters of the Black Sea near Bulgaria's territorial waters, raising serious concerns about freedom of navigation and security in the region.