EU and Ukraine Condemn Black Sea Drone Strikes Near Bulgaria

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned drone attacks on two commercial ships near Bulgaria’s territorial waters, while Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova called the strikes unacceptable and said those responsible must be held accountable.

“The Black Sea has become yet another front of escalation in Russia's war in Ukraine. This is unacceptable,” von der Leyen wrote on X.

She strongly condemned the attacks on commercial vessels off the Bulgarian coast, saying they endangered crews and threatened security in the Black Sea. The European Commission president said the European Union stood with Bulgaria and thanked rescue teams for their rapid response.

Two commercial ships were hit in separate incidents overnight. Six sailors were injured when the Maltese-flagged cargo ship CHELSEA 3 was struck about 18 nautical miles east of Byala. All 15 crew members, including seven Ukrainian and eight Azerbaijani nationals, were evacuated. Five were taken to St. Anna Hospital in Varna, while the sixth was transported to the Military Medical Academy. The vessel remained afloat.

In a separate incident about 17 nautical miles east of Krapets, another ship sank. Initial reports said at least four people had been rescued, while a later account put the number at five. Information about the crew remained incomplete.

Bulgarian authorities are coordinating rescue operations and investigating the circumstances of both incidents. Prime Minister Rumen Radev said he would summon Russian Ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova for a meeting and speak with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. He stressed that there was not yet sufficient conclusive evidence to attribute responsibility for the drone attacks to a particular state.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Russia of disregarding human life and maritime safety following the strikes near Byala and Krapets. His statement was published on social media and circulated by Ukraine’s embassy in Bulgaria.

“Today's Russian attack on commercial vessels near Bulgaria's territorial waters, which injured Ukrainian and Azerbaijani citizens, once again demonstrates Moscow's deliberate disregard for human life and the safety of navigation in the Black Sea,” Sybiha wrote.

He urged Ukraine’s partners to increase pressure on Russia, tighten sanctions and take decisive steps to hold Moscow accountable and safeguard freedom of navigation.

“The Black Sea is vital for global food security. Russia is attacking it to weaponize hunger and hold the world hostage. This must be met with firmness,” Sybiha added.

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova also condemned the repeated attacks on commercial vessels close to the country’s territorial waters, BTA reported. In a post on X, she described the strikes as a gross breach of international law and the principles of safe navigation.

Petrova said security in the Black Sea was inseparable from European security and that protecting freedom of navigation and civilian crews had to be a priority.

She said she remained in constant contact with Bulgaria’s partners in the European Union and NATO, with discussions covering assistance in investigating the attacks and establishing the drones’ origin. The talks also addressed stronger surveillance of Bulgaria’s airspace and maritime areas and improvements to the country’s response capabilities.

Petrova described the incidents as another dangerous escalation of the war in Ukraine and called for support for all diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.