At about 3 a.m. on October 6, sea and aerial drones struck two merchant ships roughly 70 nautical miles (130 km) east of Byala, in the first reported attack on commercial shipping in Bulgaria’s Black Sea exclusive economic zone. The Alfa Watan sank and its 10 crew remained missing; all 18 people aboard the damaged Able were rescued. Who launched the drones had not been established by Bulgarian investigators, despite competing accusations. 456

• The ships and rescue: The Togo-flagged Alfa Watan, a general-cargo ship reportedly headed for Romania’s port of Sulina, suffered catastrophic structural damage and sank rapidly. Bulgaria ended its search without finding survivors or bodies; searchers recovered an overturned boat, life rafts and ship equipment, but reported no drone debris. I could not verify a reliable figure for the ship’s size. 5716 The Palau-flagged Able, carrying wheat, caught fire and took on water in its engine room; Vice Admiral Rumen Nikolov warned it might also sink. The ferry Dioscuria rescued its 11 Turkish and seven Indian crew members. Two seriously injured sailors were taken to hospital in Varna. 248

• Responsibility and official reaction: Prime Minister Rumen Radev called the strikes unacceptable and a gross violation of international law, while Bulgarian authorities investigated the drones’ origin. President Iliana Yotova linked the worsening Black Sea security environment to Russia’s war in Ukraine; that broader assessment does not, by itself, identify the attacker. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy blamed Russia, while Russia’s embassy disputed accusations against it. Those claims should not be treated as investigative findings. 14127 Nikolov’s immediate account focused on the search and the Able’s flooding. 2

• Wider maritime threat: The strikes followed a fatal attack on a Turkish-owned ship carrying Ukrainian corn off Romania, adding to the danger for civilian crews and grain traffic. The European Commission condemned attacks on commercial vessels and said satellite imagery was being provided at Bulgaria’s and Romania’s request. Bulgaria’s plan to buy five more surface-to-air missile systems reflects its concern about aerial threats, while shipping disruption and higher war-risk insurance costs reflect the commercial consequences. None of those measures resolves responsibility for the October 6 strikes. 31016

At about 3 a.m. on October 6, sea and aerial drones struck two merchant ships roughly 70 nautical miles (130 km) east of Byala, in the first reported attack on commercial shipping in Bulgaria’s Black Sea exclusive economic zone. The Alfa Watan sank and its 10 crew remained missing; all 18 people aboard the damaged Able were rescued. Who launched the drones had not been established by Bulgarian investigators, despite competing accusations. 456

• The ships and rescue: The Togo-flagged Alfa Watan, a general-cargo ship reportedly headed for Romania’s port of Sulina, suffered catastrophic structural damage and sank rapidly. Bulgaria ended its search without finding survivors or bodies; searchers recovered an overturned boat, life rafts and ship equipment, but reported no drone debris. I could not verify a reliable figure for the ship’s size. 5716 The Palau-flagged Able, carrying wheat, caught fire and took on water in its engine room; Vice Admiral Rumen Nikolov warned it might also sink. The ferry Dioscuria rescued its 11 Turkish and seven Indian crew members. Two seriously injured sailors were taken to hospital in Varna. 248

• Responsibility and official reaction: Prime Minister Rumen Radev called the strikes unacceptable and a gross violation of international law, while Bulgarian authorities investigated the drones’ origin. President Iliana Yotova linked the worsening Black Sea security environment to Russia’s war in Ukraine; that broader assessment does not, by itself, identify the attacker. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy blamed Russia, while Russia’s embassy disputed accusations against it. Those claims should not be treated as investigative findings. 14127 Nikolov’s immediate account focused on the search and the Able’s flooding. 2

• Wider maritime threat: The strikes followed a fatal attack on a Turkish-owned ship carrying Ukrainian corn off Romania, adding to the danger for civilian crews and grain traffic. The European Commission condemned attacks on commercial vessels and said satellite imagery was being provided at Bulgaria’s and Romania’s request. Bulgaria’s plan to buy five more surface-to-air missile systems reflects its concern about aerial threats, while shipping disruption and higher war-risk insurance costs reflect the commercial consequences. None of those measures resolves responsibility for the October 6 strikes. 31016