(Reuters)
SOFIA, Oct 13 – Eleven sailors were missing at sea on Tuesday from a ship sunk by a drone attack off the coast of Bulgaria, possibly the second deadly sinking of a cargo vessel in the area in a week, prompting Bulgaria to summon Russia’s ambassador.
Two cargo ships were hit by drones overnight and one was sunk, Bulgarian officials said. Bulgaria stopped short of explicitly accusing Russia of carrying out the attacks but Prime Minister Rumen Radev said their outcome “benefits the Russian Federation”.
There was no immediate comment from Moscow on the incidents.
“This is absolutely unacceptable — another attack in the immediate vicinity of Bulgarian territorial waters,” Radev said in a televised address.
The attacks were also condemned by Ukraine and the EU.
“The Black Sea has become another front of escalation of the Russian war in Ukraine,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on X. “Those responsible should be held accountable.”
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on X on Tuesday that the strike “once again demonstrates Moscow’s deliberate disregard for civilian lives”.
“The Black Sea is a lifeline for global food security. Russia is attacking it to weaponise hunger and hold the world hostage,” he said.
Speaking with von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte by telephone on Tuesday, Radev urged their support to bolster his country’s maritime and airspace surveillance, the Bulgarian government said in a statement.
NATO will continue to adjust its military presence on its eastern flank “as needed”, Rutte said.
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