Drone attack sinks ship off Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, PM says - Al Jazeera
A drone attack in the Black Sea off the coast of Bulgaria resulted in one ship sinking and another being damaged. Bulgarian officials are investigating the incident, which has drawn condemnation from European leaders.
Why it matters
The attack represents a significant escalation in the Black Sea, threatening maritime security and international shipping lanes near NATO territory.
Two ships were hit in the attack, including the Ukrainian-owned Chelsea 3, which sustained damage.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info A Bulgarian border police vessel in Varna following a rescue operation after one vessel was sunk and another damaged in the Black Sea off Bulgaria, October 6, 2026 [Petko Momchilov/Reuters] By AP and Reuters Published On 13 Oct 2026 13 Oct 2026 Two ships have been hit in drone attacks off Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, with one of them sinking, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said.
The Ukrainian-owned Chelsea 3, which was sailing under a Maltese flag, was hit by three drones and damaged about 18 nautical miles (33km) off Bulgaria at about 1:30am on Tuesday, Radev said.
Radev said its 15-man crew, seven of them Ukrainians and eight Azerbaijanis, was rescued. Five crew members received medical assistance, and no one was seriously injured.
Also covering this story
6 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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