Merchant ship sinks in Black Sea after drone strike off Bulgaria coast
A Togo-flagged cargo vessel sank 110 kilometres off Bulgaria after air and sea drones struck two ships, crew missing.
Two merchant ships were hit in Tuesday's drone attack in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone, the first such strike in these waters. One ship carrying grain was rescued with two injured.
The other, the Alfa Watan, sank with its crew missing. The attack came some 140 nautical miles from Ukraine's coast.
Ukraine's foreign minister blamed Russia. Moscow has not commented.
Bulgaria's Prime Minister called it a gross violation of international law. A maritime security firm warned the strikes show a big escalation: attacks have now spread beyond Ukrainian waters into the exclusive economic zones of NATO members Romania and Bulgaria.
Concerns are rising that Russia's war in Ukraine is causing hybrid attacks in international and allied waters.
- 140 nautical miles
- Distance from Ukrainian coast
- 110 kilometres
- Attack distance off Bulgarian coast
- Togo
- Sunken ship flag
- Two
- Injured crew from grain ship
Why it mattersCommercial shipping is being targeted. Higher insurance costs, reduced trade flow, and risk of wider NATO involvement are growing.
AustraliaGlobal grain and trade routes are destabilised. Australia exports grain and minerals via shipping; any escalation affects markets and food security.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 2 h ago
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