Black Sea drones hit two merchant ships in Bulgaria’s EEZ; one sinks, another attack kills a sailor off Ukraine

Two merchant ships were attacked by aerial and maritime drones in Bulgaria’s Black Sea exclusive economic zone on October 6, roughly 70 nautical miles, or 130 kilometres, east of Byala, Bulgarian authorities said. The Togo-flagged Alfa Watan sank, with its crew unaccounted for, while all 18 sailors from the Palau-flagged Able were rescued after a fire broke out aboard.

A separate attack off Ukraine the same day killed one crew member aboard a Marshall Islands-flagged merchant vessel, according to Odesa’s regional authorities.

Prime Minister Rumen Radev convened an emergency meeting in Sofia and condemned the attacks as unacceptable violations of international law. Bulgaria’s Defence Ministry information centre identified the two ships as general cargo vessels. It said Alfa Watan sustained critical structural damage before sinking. Radev said it had been heading north with an unknown cargo, while Able was sailing south carrying wheat.

The Bulgarian ro-ro passenger ferry Dioscuria saw the explosion on Alfa Watan and diverted to assist. Its crew found an overturned boat, three life rafts and life jackets, but no survivors. Dioscuria then rescued the sailors from the burning Able.

Two injured men, one suffering burns and the other a head injury, were transferred to a Bulgarian Navy fast craft for evacuation to Varna. The remaining 16 were taken towards shore by a border police patrol boat. Radev said the rescued crew comprised 11 Turkish and seven Indian nationals.

Varna’s Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre led the operation, involving the Navy, Air Force and Border Police. Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov announced that two helicopters from the 24th Air Base at Krumovo were being moved to Chaika naval helicopter base and a Su-25 would search the area. Chief of Defence Admiral Emil Eftimov later said the aircraft had located the burning vessel and spotted life rafts, after which two Cougar helicopters were dispatched. Authorities were also monitoring possible marine pollution.

Bulgaria had not established responsibility by the evening of October 6. Radev said the drones’ origin was unclear, describing them as “clearly either Russian or Ukrainian”. Stoyanov subsequently said investigators needed drone wreckage or a claim of responsibility before they could confirm their origin. In a separate evening statement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denied Ukrainian operations in that area and blamed Russia.

Radev warned that the war was expanding geographically and increasing shipping costs and insurance risks. He also briefed European counterparts during a videoconference on competitiveness and energy. Geopolitiki previously covered the EU’s call for safe Black Sea grain passage and a pause in attacks.

One killed aboard a vessel off Ukraine

Odesa Governor Oleh Kiper said a Russian drone struck the Marshall Islands-flagged ship carrying rapeseed oil, killing one crew member and injuring seven. A fire broke out in its superstructure. Russia’s Defence Ministry separately said it had struck cargo vessels and port infrastructure at Chornomorsk and Izmail.

The incidents followed the October 5 attack on a ship carrying Ukrainian grain in Romania’s exclusive economic zone, which killed two people. Bulgarian officials said the search for Alfa Watan’s crew was continuing on the evening of October 6.