Germany's Nuremberg Airport closed due to an "air emergency"

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte confirmed today (Tuesday) that the alliance will adapt its defense arrangements “according to needs” after drones again targeted two commercial ships in the Black Sea, off the Bulgarian coast. He wrote on the “X” platform: “We have previously strengthened our arrangements on the eastern wing, and we will continue to monitor the security situation, while adapting our measures related to deterrence and defense according to needs.” Rutte indicated that he had contacted Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev after the new attack.

Two commercial ships were attacked by drones last week in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea. He said: “We do not have strong and clear evidence that would allow us to accuse any specific party, but... logic indicates that what happened is in Russia’s interest,” according to Agence France-Presse.

Concerns have increased in recent months that the Kremlin is escalating its activities in Europe through multiple attacks, especially after prominent incidents, including the discovery of a drone loaded with explosives at Leipzig Airport in Germany.

NATO's Supreme Military Commander, US General Alexus Grinkevich, vowed on Monday that the alliance would confront any attack that any of its member states might be exposed to, in a direct warning to Russia amid growing European fears of threats emanating from Moscow. “We will ensure... that any attack on any ally will be completely futile,” Grinkevich said.

Eleven people were missing after two ships were struck off the coast of Bulgaria on Tuesday, according to a spokeswoman for the Dobrich region in the northeast of the country, in the latest security incident in the Black Sea.

The spokeswoman said: “According to the information we received from the rescue center... five people were rescued and 11 are still missing.” This is preliminary information,” noting that the sea was very turbulent, according to what was reported by “Agence France-Presse.”

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said earlier that two ships were subjected to drone strikes off the Bulgarian coast, and announced his intention to summon the Russian ambassador, describing the attack he reported to NATO as “unacceptable.”

Radev said, during an emergency meeting of the Bulgarian Security Council, that the Sofia authorities received the first distress signal from one of the two ships “at 01.30 (22.30 GMT),” noting that the crew members who were all rescued reported that the ship flying the Maltese flag and owned by Ukraine “was subjected to strikes by three drones.” He added that “another ship was hit” and “sinked” shortly after that, and “one of its crew members was able to be rescued.”

Two commercial ships were attacked by drones last week in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea. One of the two ships sank, and its crew members, nine Syrians and one Egyptian, are still missing, while the eighteen sailors who were on board the second ship were rescued.

Radev considered, “This new attack on two commercial ships in direct proximity to Bulgarian territorial waters is completely unacceptable.”

Sofia authorities explained that the first strike occurred 18 nautical miles east of Byala, and the second 17 miles east of Krapets, two areas on the coast of the eastern European country.

The crew of the first ship, “Chesya 3”, registered in the Ukrainian port of Odessa, consists of seven Ukrainians and eight Azerbaijanis.

Radev indicated that the crew members were transferred to the Bulgarian port of Varna, and five of them are receiving “medical aid due to minor injuries.” He added: “We do not have strong and clear evidence to bring charges against either party, but logic shows that the outcome is in Russia’s interest.”

European condemnation

In turn, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, on Tuesday, condemned the attacks launched by drones on commercial ships near the coast of Bulgaria, and called for those responsible to be held accountable.

“The Black Sea has become another front for the escalation of the Russian war on Ukraine,” von der Leyen said on X. This is unacceptable. Those responsible must be held accountable.”

The Prime Minister of Bulgaria had reported, earlier on Tuesday, that two ships had been hit by drones off the country’s coast on the Black Sea. Which led to one of them drowning, in the second such incident within a week.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sipha called on the “X” platform to “intensify pressure on Russia,” considering that the Black Sea constitutes “a lifeline for global food security.” He believed that “Russia is attacking him with the aim of turning hunger into a weapon and taking the world hostage.”

In two letters to officials of the two organizations, Radev demanded that studying this issue be given top priority. He also called on the European Maritime Safety Agency to look into the issue.