Two vessels were hit by suspected Russian drones near the Bulgarian coast on October 13, with one ship sinking and the other requiring evacuation. These incidents mark the fifth attack on ships within the exclusive economic zones of NATO member states, prompting calls for the alliance to redeploy counter-drone systems to enhance maritime security.
Among the targeted vessels was the Chelsea 3, a Ukrainian-operated coastal freighter flying the Maltese flag. Bulgarian rescue teams safely evacuated all 15 crew members after the ship was reportedly struck by three aerial drones. Although definitive proof linking the attacks to Russia remains absent, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev addressed the Russian ambassador in Sofia. Citing the Associated Press, Radev stated that it makes no sense for Ukraine to destroy its own ships in the Black Sea and that the outcomes of these strikes serve Russian interests.