Ship sinks and crew missing after Black Sea drone attack
A civilian cargo ship sank and its crew went missing following a drone strike in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone, as a second grain vessel was hit.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Turkish-owned cargo ship flying Togo flag sinks after Black Sea drone strike
- Second grain vessel targeted and hit within Bulgarian exclusive economic zone
- Bulgarian Prime Minister strongly condemns the maritime law violations
- European Commission President calls civilian shipping attacks unacceptable
A maritime security crisis unfolded in the Black Sea as a civilian cargo vessel sank and its entire crew went missing following a sudden drone attack, according to Bulgarian government officials. The incident underscores the expanding physical risks of the ongoing regional conflict to international commercial shipping lanes.
Prime Minister Rosen Radev of Bulgaria reported that a second ship carrying a cargo of grain was also struck within the nation's exclusive economic zone. Fortunately, all 18 crew members aboard the second vessel were successfully rescued. The coordinated air and sea drone strikes occurred at approximately 03:00 local time, roughly 70 miles or 112 kilometers off the eastern coastal town of Byala.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
The sunken vessel was identified as a Turkish-owned general cargo ship named the Alfa Watan, which was registered under the flag of Togo and reportedly bound for Sulina in Romania. Bulgarian emergency response teams rushed to the scene upon notification, but found only an overturned hull, life rafts, and scattered life jackets floating on the water surface as search and rescue operations commenced.
The second affected vessel, named the Able and flying the flag of Palau, was transporting agricultural grain.
- The crew consisted of 11 Turkish nationals and 7 Indian nationals.
- Its last documented location was situated five nautical miles from the Alfa Watan.
- Two crew members sustained injuries from an onboard fire and required immediate medical evacuation.
"Such an attack within the Bulgarian exclusive economic zone is absolutely unacceptable."
Rosen Radev, Prime Minister of Bulgaria
Prime Minister Radev sharply criticized the attacks as a flagrant violation of international maritime law. He warned reporters that if the war in Ukraine is not halted promptly, the conflict will inevitably expand its geographical boundaries and heighten the danger of a wider global confrontation. Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen voiced deep alarm on social media, emphasizing that attacks targeting civilian commercial shipping remain completely intolerable.
The escalation of drone warfare into the Black Sea exclusive economic zones of non-belligerent nations like Bulgaria highlights a dangerous shift in regional stability. As a crucial corridor for international grain exports, any disruption or military spillover in these waters threatens global food security chains, inflates marine insurance premiums, and places commercial mariners at unprecedented risk far away from direct frontline combat zones.
Source: BBC World
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