Drone attacks on merchant ships off Bulgaria sink one vessel in Black Sea
Synopsis
Two merchant ships have been struck by drones off Bulgaria's Black Sea coast in a single night — the second such attack within a week. With one vessel confirmed sunk and only one crew member rescued from the second ship, Bulgaria's PM is calling it 'absolutely unacceptable' and has activated both NATO and EU channels to identify the perpetrators.
Key Takeaways
Two merchant ships were attacked by drones in the Black Sea off Bulgaria on 13 October 2026 .
The 'Chelsea 3' , a Maltese-flagged, Ukrainian-owned vessel, was struck by three aerial drones roughly 18 nautical miles east of Byala ; all 15 crew members were rescued.
A second vessel sank approximately 17 nautical miles east of Krapets ; only one crew member had been rescued at the time of the announcement.
This is the second drone attack on commercial shipping near Bulgaria's coast within a week; a previous attack on 6 October sank one ship and set another on fire.
Bulgarian PM Rumen Radev has notified NATO and EU representatives and plans to speak with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte .
Bulgaria is seeking international support to investigate the origin of the drones and to bolster its air and maritime surveillance.
Two merchant ships came under drone attack in the Black Sea off the coast of Bulgaria on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, with at least one vessel confirmed sunk, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced at an extraordinary meeting of the country's security council. The incident marks the second such attack on commercial shipping near Bulgarian waters within a single week.
How the Attacks Unfolded
The first vessel, the 'Chelsea 3' — a Maltese-flagged, Ukrainian-owned ship registered in Odesa — was struck by three aerial drones at approximately 1:30 a.m. local time (2230 GMT Monday), roughly 18 nautical miles east of the town of Byala. Bulgarian authorities rescued all 15 crew members aboard, comprising seven Ukrainian nationals and eight Azerbaijani nationals, and transported them safely to the port of Varna, where five received medical care.
A second merchant vessel was hit approximately 17 nautical miles east of Krapets. That ship sank, and only one crew member was rescued at the time of the announcement. Radev said authorities were 'still clarifying the situation' regarding the second vessel.
A Pattern of Escalating Attacks
This is the second drone strike on commercial shipping near Bulgaria within a week. On 6 October, unidentified drones sank one merchant ship and set another ablaze roughly 70 nautical miles east of Byala, within Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The recurrence signals a pattern that is drawing urgent concern from Sophia and its Western allies.
'Another attack on merchant ships in the immediate vicinity of Bulgarian territorial waters is absolutely unacceptable,' Radev said. Bulgaria is a NATO member state, and the attacks place the alliance's response frameworks under direct scrutiny, as the Black Sea has grown increasingly contested since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
NATO and EU Notified
Radev confirmed that Bulgaria's permanent representatives to both NATO and the European Union had been formally notified. He also said he was scheduled to speak directly with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to discuss the situation. Bulgaria is simultaneously seeking international support for an investigation to establish precisely which country the attacking drones originated from.
Bulgaria Seeks Stronger Maritime Defences
Beyond the immediate response, Radev said Bulgaria would pursue support to strengthen its air and maritime surveillance capabilities and enhance its operational response capacity. The twin attacks expose the vulnerability of commercial shipping in the western Black Sea to drone warfare — a threat that has previously centred on Ukrainian and Russian vessels much further east.
With an investigation underway and diplomatic channels activated, all eyes are on NATO's response and whether the drone origin can be conclusively established.
Point of View
Not sustained attrition warfare against commercial shipping in a member state's EEZ. If the drone origin is traced to Russia — as the conflict pattern would suggest — the alliance faces an uncomfortable question: at what point do repeated strikes on civilian vessels in NATO-adjacent waters trigger a more formal Article 4 or Article 5 discussion?
NationPress
13 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the merchant ships off Bulgaria on 13 October 2026?
Two merchant ships were attacked by drones in the Black Sea off the Bulgarian coast on 13 October 2026. The first vessel, the 'Chelsea 3', was struck by three aerial drones about 18 nautical miles east of Byala; all 15 crew members were rescued. A second ship was hit near Krapets, sank, and only one crew member had been rescued at the time of the official announcement.
Who was on board the 'Chelsea 3' and were they safe?
The 'Chelsea 3' carried 15 crew members — seven Ukrainian nationals and eight Azerbaijani nationals. All were rescued by Bulgarian authorities and transported to the port of Varna, where five received medical care.
Is this the first drone attack on ships near Bulgaria?
No. On 6 October 2026, unidentified drones sank one merchant ship and set another on fire roughly 70 nautical miles east of Byala, within Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone. The 13 October incident is therefore the second such attack within a week.
What is Bulgaria doing in response to the attacks?
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev has notified the country's permanent representatives to NATO and the EU and said he planned to speak with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Bulgaria is also seeking international support to investigate which country the attacking drones came from, and to strengthen its air and maritime surveillance capabilities.
Why are drone attacks in the Black Sea significant for NATO?
Bulgaria is a full NATO member, and repeated drone strikes on civilian shipping within its exclusive economic zone raise questions about the alliance's maritime defence posture in the Black Sea. The attacks are occurring against a backdrop of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, which has made the Black Sea a heavily contested waterway for commercial and military vessels alike.
