Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev on Tuesday said that the attack on two ships off the nation's Black Sea coast was "absolutely unacceptable". Radev also remarked that he was due to speak with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte regarding the incident.
"This is absolutely unacceptable — another attack in the immediate vicinity of Bulgarian territorial waters," Radev said in a televised address.
The comments followed a drone attack on two ships that sunk one and prompted rescue operations.
The Ukrainian-owned 'Chelsea 3,' sailing under Maltese flag, was hit by three drones some 18 nautical miles (33 km) off the Bulgaria coast around 1:30 am (22:30 GMT), Radev said.
Its crew - seven Ukrainians and eight Azerbaijanis - had been rescued. Five crew members received medical assistance, but no one was seriously injured.
A second ship had also been hit, with reports it had sunk, Radev said, adding one crew member had been rescued. The prime minister did not provide details regarding the others on-board.
While authorities do not possess clear evidence on who was responsible for the drone attacks, “logic, as I have already stated, indicates that the result is in favour of the Russian Federation,” Radev said.
Radev said he would summon the Russian ambassador to Bulgaria, Eleonora Mitrofanova, for a conversation Tuesday.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha in a post on X on Tuesday also blamed Russia for the attacks.
“Russia's latest attack on commercial vessels near Bulgaria's territorial waters, which injured Ukrainian and Azerbaijani citizens, once again demonstrates Moscow's deliberate disregard for civilian lives and maritime security in the Black Sea,” Sybiha wrote.
Russia's latest attack on commercial vessels near Bulgaria's territorial waters, which injured Ukrainian and Azerbaijani citizens, once again demonstrates Moscow's deliberate disregard for civilian lives and maritime security in the Black Sea.We urge our partners to step up pressure on Russia, strengthen sanctions, and take decisive action to hold it accountable and protect freedom of navigation.The Black Sea is a lifeline for global food security. Russia is attacking it to weaponize hunger and hold the world hostage. This must be met with strength.
He said that Ukraine is urging its partners to step up pressure on Russia, strengthen sanctions and take decisive action to hold it accountable and protect freedom of navigation.
“The Black Sea is a lifeline for global food security. Russia is attacking it to weaponise hunger and hold the world hostage. This must be met with strength,” Sybiha wrote.
Ukraine's military did not conduct any operations near the locations of last week's drone strikes, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who pointed the finger at Russia.
Russia did not immediately comment on Tuesday's incident.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen “strongly condemned” the drone incidents and said the Black Sea “has become another front of escalation” in Russia's war in Ukraine.
“This is unacceptable. I strongly condemn the drone attacks on merchant ships near Bulgaria's coast. Putting the lives of the crew in grave danger and threatening security in the Black Sea,” she said in a post on X.
The Black Sea has become another front of escalation of the Russian war in Ukraine. This is unacceptable.I strongly condemn the drone attacks on merchant ships near Bulgaria’s coast.Putting the lives of the crew in grave danger and threatening security in the Black Sea.We stand with Bulgaria and thank its rescuers for their swift response.Those responsible should be held accountable.
“We stand with Bulgaria and thank its rescuers for their swift response. Those responsible should be held accountable,” she said.
Bulgaria does not border either Ukraine or Russia, but as a NATO member it holds a strategic position on the Black Sea, where both countries have major ports. There are growing concerns about hybrid attacks involving drones by Russia as it wages war in Ukraine.
(With inputs from Reuters & AP via PTI)