RMF241 hour agoWorld1 min read

Another attack on ships in the Black Sea. One of them went to the bottom

Quick Look

According to Euronews, the drone attack occurred approximately 24 km from the Bulgarian coast on a Maltese-flagged cargo ship sailing from Turkey to Moldova; the unit listed slightly and the 15-man crew were evacuated to Varna without any injuries.
Prime Minister Radev suggested possible Russian involvement, referring to previous incidents, including the sinking of the Togolese-flagged ship Alfa Watan on October 6 and a fire on a Romanian ship on October 5, in which two people died.

AI-generated summary

Why It Matters

In recent weeks, the Black Sea has been the scene of a series of incidents involving drone attacks on commercial ships, including sinkings and fires, increasing concerns about shipping safety in the region.

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According to Euronews, the incident occurred about 24 kilometers off the Bulgarian coast.

Earlier, the Bulgarian BTA agency reported about a drone attack on a cargo ship flying the Maltese flag, located about 28 kilometers from the town of Byala. The unit sailed from Turkey to Moldova. After the impact, she listed slightly and the 15-person crew were evacuated to Varna. No one was injured.

It is not yet known whether the ship described by BTA was one of the two vessels Prime Minister Radev was talking about.

This is another case

An attack in the Bulgarian Black Sea economic zone also occurred last week. On October 6, two units were also hit, and one of them sank - Alfa Watan, flying the flag of Togo. The crew is missing. A fire broke out on the second ship and the crew was rescued.

In his speech, Prime Minister Radev suggested that the Russians could have been behind the attack.

On October 5, a fire broke out on board a ship in Romania's economic zone. Two people died and 11 were rescued. According to Romanian media, the unit was hit by a drone.

What to Watch

AI outlook — possibilities, not facts

Bulgaria and Romania may request reinforcement of NATO patrols in the Black Sea.
Likely · Within weeks
International investigations may focus on identifying the origin of the drones used.
Possible · Within months

Open Questions

Who exactly is behind the drone attack on the Maltese ship?
Is there evidence of Russian involvement in these incidents?
What steps will coastal states take to secure shipping lanes in the Black Sea?