Two foreign-flagged merchant ships were struck by drones in the Black Sea within Bulgaria’s Exclusive Economic Zone, resulting in one ship sinking and leaving crew members missing. Prime Minister Rumen Radev confirmed that the Togo-flagged cargo vessel Alfa Watan suffered critical structural damage and sank at the scene, while the Palau-flagged vessel Able caught fire before a local ferry successfully rescued its crew. Bulgarian officials strongly condemned the strikes as a blatant violation of international law, though the exact origin and operators of the drones remain undetermined. The incident represents the first time commercial shipping has been directly targeted within the maritime exclusive economic zone of a NATO member nation. This alarming security breach has amplified growing European anxieties regarding the expanding spillover effects and hybrid threats tied to the ongoing conflict in the region.

Full report : Bulgaria ends search for missing crew after drone strike sinks cargo ship.