Drones strike two vessels in Bulgaria's economic zone; one ship sinks
Two commercial vessels were struck by drones within Bulgaria's Exclusive Economic Zone, resulting in one ship sinking and another catching fire. This incident marks the first drone attack on shipping within the waters of a NATO member state.
Why it matters
The attack on shipping in NATO-affiliated waters raises significant concerns regarding maritime security and the potential for regional escalation in the Black Sea.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev on Tuesday said two commercial vessels were struck by drones inside the country's Exclusive Economic Zone, marking the first attack on shipping in the exclusive waters of a Nato country.The ships were attacked by several drones about 128 kilometres off Bulgaria’s coast, Radev said, after he held an emergency meeting on the incident.One of the vessels, the Togo-flagged Alfa Watan, suffered critical structural damage and sank on the spot. Officials had no immediate information about what happened to the crew, Radev said.The other ship, the Able, sailing under the Palau flag, burst into flames following the attack. A Bulgarian ferry rescued all 18 crew members.
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