Black Sea Drone Strike Sinks Boxship: All 18 Crew Saved
Three uncrewed surface vessels sank the Liberian-flagged Contship Jet 21 nautical miles off Bulgaria’s coast.
The Bulgarian Navy successfully rescued all 18 crew members of the Contship Jet, a Liberian-flagged container ship, after it was struck by three naval drones in the Black Sea on October 28, 2026. The attack, which occurred approximately 21 nautical miles southeast of Shabla near Cape Kaliakra, resulted in the vessel sinking.
The Contship Jet was en route from Haifa, Israel, to Constanta, Romania, carrying 421 containers when it came under attack shortly before 1 p.m. local time. Bulgaria’s Defence Ministry confirmed the drones were uncrewed surface vessels, with the strike monitored by the Bulgarian Navy’s surveillance system and a French maritime patrol aircraft. The aircraft first reported the drones, prompting an immediate response from naval vessels.
Attack and rescue details: Black Sea
The crew, consisting of 14 Philippine nationals and 4 Ukrainians, evacuated the ship. Eight were rescued by a Bulgarian Navy vessel, while the remaining ten used the ship’s lifeboat. All were transported to Varna for medical checks, according to the Transport and Communications Ministry.
While Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev stated there is no solid evidence pointing to responsibility for the attack, suspicions have centered on Russia due to the strategic advantage such disruptions could provide. The incident is the latest in a series of drone attacks in October 2026 targeting ships off the Romanian and Bulgarian coasts.
Regional tensions and NATO’s role
In response, Bulgarian Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov met with his Turkish and Romanian counterparts, Yaşar Güler and Ștefan Radu Oprea, to address Black Sea security. The three NATO allies condemned the attack and called for an immediate end to such incidents. Bulgaria has also requested additional technical support from NATO and the EU to enhance maritime surveillance and counter-drone capabilities.
The sinking of the Contship Jet highlights the growing threat to commercial shipping in the region. With no clear resolution in sight, the incident underscores the need for stronger international measures to protect vessels navigating the Black Sea.
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