Black Sea Drone Strike: Bulgaria’s Frigate Finds No Evidence
Bulgarian forces spent 30 minutes aboard the damaged bulker Able but recovered no drone debris.
The Bulgarian frigate Verni was dispatched to locate the 7,400 dwt bulker Able, a Palau-flagged vessel carrying wheat, after it was struck by drones early on October 6. The ship was found 55 nautical miles northeast of Cape Emine, listing heavily by the stern with its engine room partially flooded. Military officials described the fire damage as “extremely intense,” but the vessel remained stable enough for a boarding team to conduct a search.
Despite the extensive damage, the team from the Bulgarian Navy and Air Force reported no signs of drone debris or fragments either aboard the Able or in the surrounding waters. “Unfortunately, the team reported it was unable to locate any debris or fragments aboard the vessel or in the water,” a military official confirmed. The lack of physical evidence has left Bulgarian authorities reluctant to speculate on the origin of the attack, though both Ukraine and Russia have denied responsibility.
Ukraine blames Russia as Bulgaria calls for international probe
“Our Navy contacted its counterparts in Bulgaria, and it has been established that this was a combined Russian attack,” he said.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev, however, stopped short of assigning blame. In an emergency meeting of Bulgaria’s Security Council, Radev condemned the attack as “an unacceptable attack in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone” and “a blatant violation of international law and maritime law.” He added that without concrete evidence, Bulgaria would not jump to conclusions. The country’s Minister of Defense echoed this stance, stating that an independent investigation involving Bulgaria and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) was necessary to determine the facts.
Syria, which had nine crewmembers aboard the 3,160 dwt Alfa Watan, has also called for an independent probe. La embarcación Alfa Watan, de bandera togolesa, owned by Turkish interests, was carrying salt from Egypt to Romania when it was struck. The ship suffered critical structural damage and sank, leaving all 10 crewmembers missing.
Black Sea shipping at risk as Turkey proposes safe corridors
Turkey, which has lost seafarers in previous attacks, has proposed establishing two safe transit corridors to protect merchant vessels. Turkish media reported that Ankara is pushing for these corridors to be maintained amid growing concerns over the escalation of hostilities in the region.
The Able and Alfa Watan were struck around 3 a.m. local time on October 6, approximately 55 millas náuticas al noreste de Cabo Emine.
While the frigate’s search did not yield evidence, Bulgarian officials have pledged to continue monitoring the wreck. The next steps may involve coordinating with the IMO and other international bodies to ensure a thorough investigation, though no timeline has been set for further action.
For now, the fate of the missing crewmembers from the Alfa Watan remains uncertain, and the lack of debris from the drones leaves the perpetrator’s identity in question. As tensions in the Black Sea escalate, the attack underscores the vulnerability of commercial shipping in a region increasingly dominated by geopolitical conflict.
“This is an unacceptable attack in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone. It is a blatant violation of international law and maritime law.”
Rumen Radev·Prime Minister of Bulgaria
“This latest tragedy involving civilian vessels is another part of Russia’s effort to make the western Black Sea completely unfit for navigation. We verified all the details with the Bulgarian side. Our Navy contacted its counterparts in Bulgaria, and it has been established that this was a combined Russian attack using maritime and aerial drones.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy·President of Ukraine
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