Drones Sink Ship Off Bulgaria In First Attack In Its Waters
Drones struck and sank one commercial ship and set another ablaze about 3 a.m. local time Tuesday roughly 70 miles off Byala, Bulgaria, in the Black Sea, marking the first attack in Bulgarian waters.[1]
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said the strikes came from both sea and aerial drones and that rescue teams were working at sea.[1] He said one vessel sank and the other was left burning, and he described the attack as a violation of international maritime law.[1] Radev added that the drones were either Ukrainian or Russian in origin but that the source had not been confirmed.[1] NATO declined to comment publicly and directed inquiries to Bulgarian authorities.[1]
Officials said they had not previously recorded such strikes in Bulgarian waters, and investigators were mobilized to establish how the attack occurred.[1] NATO referred questions to Sofia as investigators try to determine whether the drones came from Ukraine, Russia or another actor.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- Around 3 a.m. local time on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, drones hit two commercial ships about 70 miles off Byala, Bulgaria, in the Black Sea
- Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said one vessel sank and the other was left burning after strikes by sea and aerial drones
- Radev said the drones were either Ukrainian or Russian in origin but that their source was not yet confirmed and called the attack a violation of international maritime law
- NATO, of which Bulgaria is a member, declined public comment and directed inquiries to Bulgarian authorities
- Bulgarian officials said rescue operations were underway following the attack, the first of its kind in Bulgarian waters
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