Black Sea Drone Strikes Leave 11 Seafarers Missing
Bulgarian authorities rescue 20 crew members after two cargo ships are hit by drones near Romanian border
Eleven sailors remain missing after a drone strike sank a cargo vessel off Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast early this week, while a second ship was hit in a separate attack but managed to avoid sinking. Five crew members were rescued from the sunken vessel, identified by Bulgarian President Iliana Iotova as the Guinea-Bissau-flagged HS Dignity.
The HS Dignity went down approximately 15 to 17 nautical miles east of the coastal village of Krapets, near Bulgaria’s border with Romania. The ship, which was partially loaded, had been sailing from the Algerian port of Mostaganem toward the Romanian port of Braila, according to tracking data from LSEG and MarineTraffic. Search efforts for the missing crew members were still underway as of October 13.
A second vessel, the Maltese-flagged Chelsea 3, was struck by three drones near the Bulgarian coast off Byala. All 15 crew members—seven Ukrainians and eight Azerbaijanis—were rescued, though some sustained minor injuries. The ship, carrying cargo at 72% of its capacity, had docked at the Romanian port of Tulcea on October 3 before continuing its voyage.
Bulgaria Seeks Answers as Tensions Rise: Black Sea
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev condemned the attacks, stating that while there was no definitive evidence pointing to responsibility, Russia appeared to benefit from the disruptions. He announced that Russia’s ambassador, Eleonora Mitrofanova, would be summoned for discussions. However, Mitrofanova later told Bulgarian officials she had received no information from the Russian Defense Ministry regarding the strikes and did not dismiss the possibility of a third party being involved.
The incidents follow a similar attack on October 6, when two merchant ships were hit in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone. One of the vessels, the Alfa Watan, sank, resulting in the presumed loss of all 10 crew members—nine Syrians and one Egyptian. The search for those sailors was later abandoned.
Grain Shipments at Risk as Conflict Escalates
The attacks have heightened concerns over the safety of commercial shipping in the Black Sea, a critical route for global grain exports. Both Russia and Ukraine rank among the world’s largest grain exporters, and the strikes threaten to further destabilize food supply chains. Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukrainian ports, forcing Kyiv to rely on alternative shipping routes near Bulgaria and Romania. Meanwhile, Ukraine has increasingly struck Russian grain-exporting vessels in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov.
In response to the latest attacks, Bulgaria has requested support from the European Commission and NATO to strengthen maritime and airspace surveillance. Prime Minister Radev discussed the situation with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who indicated that the alliance would adjust its military presence along its eastern flank.
The search for the missing crew of the HS Dignity continues, with Bulgarian authorities coordinating efforts with neighboring countries. The attacks serve as a stark reminder of the dangers facing civilian vessels in a region increasingly shaped by conflict.
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