Bulgaria Halts Search for Missing Crew After Drone Attack Sinks Merchant Ship in Black Sea

Bulgaria has halted its search for the crew of a merchant ship that sank after a drone attack in the Black Sea, leaving the sailors missing and raising fresh concerns about the safety of commercial shipping in the region. The vessel was struck about 70 nautical miles off Bulgaria’s coast, inside the country’s exclusive economic zone.

Two commercial vessels were hit by sea and aerial drones early Tuesday. The Togo-flagged Alfa Watan suffered severe damage and sank, while the Palau-flagged Able, which was carrying grain, was damaged and caught fire. All 18 crew members aboard the Able were rescued, with two seriously injured and taken to hospital.

Bulgaria’s Maritime Administration said the search for the Alfa Watan crew was stopped after rescuers found no sign of the sailors. A boat, three life rafts and parts of the ship’s equipment were recovered, but no survivors or drone debris were located. Officials said the operation would not resume unless new information emerges.

The identity of whoever carried out the attack has not been independently established. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a joint investigation with Bulgarian naval authorities concluded that Russia was responsible and described the attack as part of a wider effort to make the western Black Sea unsafe for navigation. Bulgarian authorities have remained more cautious, saying the origin of the drones has not been conclusively verified.

The incident has drawn wider international concern because it occurred inside Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone, although outside its 12-nautical-mile territorial waters. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned attacks on civilian shipping, warning that commercial vessels and their crews are increasingly exposed as the war in Ukraine continues to affect Black Sea navigation.

The attack came only a day after another vessel caught fire and sank in the Black Sea near Romania, with two people reported dead. The succession of incidents has heightened concerns over the expanding risks to commercial routes, insurance costs and the movement of food and other goods through the region.

Bulgaria is now preparing additional security measures. Prime Minister Rumen Radev said the government would approve the purchase of five additional surface-to-air missile systems following the attack. An emergency meeting of Bulgaria’s Security Council is also due to examine maritime security and threats to critical infrastructure.

The fate of the missing crew remains unknown, while the attack has become another indication of how the Russia-Ukraine war is creating security risks far beyond the immediate battlefield. For commercial operators, the latest incidents are adding to concerns about whether the western Black Sea can remain a safe and reliable shipping corridor.