Europeupdated 49m ago2 min read
Rumen Radev Condemns Drone Attack That Sank Alfa Watan Off Bulgaria’s Black Sea Coast
Two merchant ships in Bulgaria's EEZ were hit by drones; one sank with crew missing. The other ship's 18 crew were rescued; a rescue operation continued.
Black Sea drone attack
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev condemned a drone attack on two merchant ships in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea, saying it was “absolutely unacceptable” and “a flagrant violation of international law and maritime law.” Radev said sea and aerial drones struck the vessels at around 3 a.m. local time, about 128 kilometres off Bulgaria’s coast near Byala, and he said the Togo-flagged Alfa Watan suffered critical structural damage and sank at the scene.
“‘This is an unacceptable attack in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone. It is a blatant violation of international law and maritime law,’ Radev said.”
Radev said the Palau-flagged Able caught fire after the attack, and a Bulgarian ferry evacuated all 18 crew members, with two sailors flown to a hospital in the port city of Varna. Ursula von der Leyen said the attacks were “unacceptable,” and she wrote that “Commercial ships – and innocent crews – are being targeted, with lives already lost at sea.”
Flags, crews, and search
Radev said the Alfa Watan was flying the flag of Togo and was a Turkish-owned general cargo ship reportedly heading for Sulina, Romania, while Bulgarian officials said a search operation was launched. Radev said the Able was flying the flag of Palau and transporting grain, and Radev’s remarks included that eleven were Turkish and seven Indian nationals.
Rumen Nikolov, head of local rescue operations in Varna, told the public radio BNR that rescue teams were scanning the area in search of the missing sailors about 150 kilometers east of the coastal town of Byala. A Bulgarian vessel was close by, but when it arrived all it saw was an overturned boat and rafts as well as life jackets, and the crew of the second ship was rescued.
Broader war and shipping
Radev warned that if the war in Ukraine is not halted in time, it will continue to expand its geographical reach and increase risks, including “the risk of a global conflict.” Radev referred to the war in Ukraine when he said, “Such an attack within the Bulgarian exclusive economic zone is absolutely unacceptable.”
“Such an attack within the Bulgarian exclusive economic zone is absolutely unacceptable.”
What is happening is “seriously disrupting shipping in the Black Sea, driving up insurance costs even further and making shipping extremely difficult.” The Turkish Chamber of Maritime Commerce (Imeak) reported last month that since the start of the war, 226 civilian and commercial ships have been attacked in the Black Sea, the vast majority this year.