Two Civilian Ships Attacked Near Bulgaria in the Black Sea Amid Rising Regional Tensions

Assault Targets Civilian Vessels in the Black Sea

According to Рубрика — Політика: Two commercial ships were struck within Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea. According to Ukraine’s Naval Forces, Russian military units carried out the attacks using a combination of maritime and aerial drones. The incident resulted in the sinking of the vessel ALFA WATAN and the deaths of two crew members.

Ukraine’s Defense Forces have denied conducting any operations near Bulgaria’s Black Sea area at the time. The vessels involved were:

• ALFA WATAN, registered under the flag of Togo
• ABLE, sailing under the flag of Palau

Tragically, two crew members aboard ALFA WATAN lost their lives, while 11 others were rescued. The ship ABLE was successfully removed from the danger zone, with all 18 crew members brought to safety via a passenger ferry.

Romania’s Ministry of Interior confirmed the casualties and rescue efforts. Bulgarian Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov stated that it remains unclear whether the drones involved were operated by Ukrainian or Russian forces. He emphasized that identifying drone debris or obtaining admission from either party is essential to assigning responsibility.

"We must locate drone wreckage or have one side claim responsibility, which has not occurred, so we cannot verify if the drones were Ukrainian or Russian. Our assessment is that maritime drones were used in the attack," said Dimitar Stoyanov.

Dimitar Stoyanov

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed concern over the event, highlighting that "the Ukrainian Defense Forces conducted no operations in this maritime zone. This latest tragedy involving civilian ships reflects Russia’s ongoing efforts to render the western Black Sea region completely unsafe for navigation."

He also directed Ukraine’s Armed Forces and Ministry of Defense to strengthen coordination with international partners to enhance defensive capabilities. The Bulgarian Defense Minister added:

"We are evidently part of a hybrid conflict between Ukraine and Russia, regardless of who is responsible. This war is being fought right on our doorstep. There is nothing surprising about this," Stoyanov remarked.

Bulgarian Defense Minister

This attack on civilian shipping underscores escalating tensions in the Black Sea region and the increasing dangers faced by maritime traffic. Even as Ukraine denies involvement, the incident illustrates how the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict continues to threaten the safety of commercial vessels. International responses and forthcoming investigations will be crucial in clarifying the circumstances and determining accountability.

In light of these recent events, the situation in the Black Sea continues to escalate, raising concerns about maritime security. For further insight into the ongoing rescue operations and the implications of these drone strikes on regional shipping, read more about the drone attacks affecting cargo ships off Bulgaria’s coast.