Drone Strikes Hit Two Cargo Ships Off Bulgaria’s Coast, Resulting in Two Deaths as Rescue Efforts Continue

Drone Assaults Near Bulgaria’s Black Sea Coast

According to Рубрика — Суспільство: On October 6, 2026, two commercial vessels were targeted by drone strikes within Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea. The cargo ship ALFA WATAN, sailing under the Togolese flag from El-Arish, Egypt to Sulina, Romania, sank following the attack. Two crew members lost their lives, while 11 others were rescued. Another ship, ABLE, registered in Palau and en route from Galati, Romania to Istanbul, Turkey, caught fire but all 18 crew members were saved.

The Bulgarian passenger ferry DIOSCURIA assisted in rescuing survivors from the ABLE and proceeded to the incident site to support ongoing rescue operations. Several of the survivors sustained injuries and received initial medical treatment aboard the ferry. Bulgarian rescue teams are coordinating medical evacuations to shore. The rescue mission is currently underway east of Cape St. Atanas and the town of Byala, approximately 80 miles offshore.

Background and Regional Impact

This event marks the first known drone attack on commercial vessels within Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone. In response, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev convened an urgent meeting with government officials to address the situation. It is important to note that on the previous day, October 5, 2026, Russian drones struck civilian ships near Romania’s coast in the Black Sea, including an attack on the ROYAD MAMMADOV, which was transporting corn from Ukraine to Italy. That assault resulted in the captain’s death and left 11 crew members rescued, with one injured.

• These attacks on civilian maritime traffic are raising growing alarm across the region.
• An additional strike was recorded against a Liberian-flagged cargo vessel at a port in the Odessa region, causing one maritime worker’s death and injuring three others.

Bulgaria’s emergency services remain actively engaged in responding to the aftermath of these recent Black Sea attacks.

These incidents highlight escalating tensions in the Black Sea, where assaults on civilian ships are becoming increasingly frequent.

Such attacks pose serious risks to maritime security in the area and threaten the economies of nations reliant on sea trade routes. Government responses and enhanced security measures in Black Sea waters are crucial to maintaining regional stability amid rising military pressures.

These recent events highlight a troubling trend in the Black Sea, as attacks on civilian vessels become increasingly frequent. For instance, just a day before the drone strikes near Bulgaria, a similar attack targeted a Liberian-flagged ship in the Odessa region, resulting in casualties among the crew. This escalation raises serious concerns about maritime safety in the region.