The Black Sea region has once again found itself at the epicenter of a severe geopolitical crisis after civil vessels were attacked in close proximity to Bulgaria's territorial waters. The incident, recorded on October 13, 2026, has already sparked a serious escalation of tensions in Eastern Europe. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Radev officially announced his intention to summon the Russian ambassador for explanations regarding the overnight drone strikes on ships located in neutral waters near the Bulgarian coast.

Chronology of Attacks in the Black Sea

According to official data from the Bulgarian government, the first attack occurred around 01:30 on Tuesday, October 13. The cargo ship "Chelsea 3," owned by a Ukrainian company and sailing under the Maltese flag, was attacked by three unmanned aerial vehicles approximately 18 nautical miles (33 kilometers) off the coast near the town of Byala. Despite severe damage and the threat of sinking, the crew managed to survive, and all sailors were promptly rescued. Practically simultaneously, reports emerged regarding a second incident: another unidentified vessel sustained critical damage and, according to preliminary data, sank 17 nautical miles from the village of Krapets.

Contradictory Data

Despite the emergency nature of the event and the severity of its consequences, the Bulgarian leadership is refraining from direct and unambiguous accusations against specific states. Prime Minister Rosen Radev openly admitted that, for now, official Sofia lacks exhaustive and weighty evidence to unconditionally lay responsibility on either side of the conflict. Nevertheless, the Bulgarian leadership emphasizes that the current situation is objectively beneficial to the Russian Federation, which prompted the decision to summon Moscow's diplomatic representative. In parallel, specialized EU and NATO bodies, to which Sofia appealed for urgent expert and technical assistance, are investigating the incident.

Background and Implications for NATO Security

The current attack is far from the first in a series of incidents off the coast of Bulgaria. Just a few days earlier, on October 6, two other bulk carriers were subjected to a similar attack, resulting in the Togo-flagged vessel ALFA WATAN completely sinking. At the time, the Bulgarian Prime Minister described the event as "extremely alarming," but noted that there were no grounds to invoke Articles 4 and 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty yet. Experts point out that regular incidents near the shores of NATO member states cast doubt on the effectiveness of collective security systems in the Black Sea and require Brussels and Washington to take decisive steps to protect navigation.