Bulgaria has denounced a second wave of drone strikes on commercial vessels off its coastline within a single week, signaling that the war in Ukraine is increasingly encroaching on Eastern Europe. Prime Minister Rumen Radev confirmed that two ships were hit on Tuesday, although no fatalities were reported and all crew members were successfully rescued by Bulgarian authorities.
Radev noted that one of the vessels, a Ukrainian-owned cargo ship, was struck by three aerial drones shortly before a second ship was targeted. While acknowledging a lack of definitive proof to formally accuse a specific party, the Prime Minister stated that logical deduction suggests the Russian Federation stands to benefit from the attacks.
The recent incidents follow a similar attack last week, for which Moscow is also suspected. In response, Radev has requested official assistance from both the European Union and NATO to identify the source of the drones. He described the rising violence in the Black Sea as “unacceptable” and announced plans to summon the Russian ambassador for discussions.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also issued a strong condemnation, characterizing the strikes as “another front of escalation of the Russian war in Ukraine.” She expressed solidarity with Bulgaria and praised the swift response of its rescue teams, adding that those responsible must face accountability.
Over the past 12 months, at least 45 merchant vessels have been attacked by drones in the Black Sea region. This trend highlights how the conflict is taking a growing toll on stability in Eastern Europe, prompting regional leaders to seek broader international support to address the security threats.
Wait, so PM Radev is a man and also a Prime Minister? Did the article mean President or someone else?
Russia benefits from chaos here. This is exactly the kind of grey-zone warfare we’ve been warning about for months.