Drone strike leaves crew of Black Sea ship missing

A merchant ship sank in the Black Sea on Tuesday after a drone strike left its crew missing. Bulgarian authorities launched a search operation about 70 miles off the coast of Byala following the incident.

Prime Minister Rumen Radev confirmed that drones hit two vessels in the area. Sailors aboard a grain-carrying ship were rescued, though two suffered injuries. A report from British risk group Vanguard identified the attacked ships as the Togo-flagged general cargo vessel ALFA WATAN and the Palau-flagged ABLE. Both vessels sent distress signals before the strike. The crew of the ALFA WATAN remains missing, while officials also monitor the area for environmental damage.

A maritime security source said early evidence points to a Russian strike. Radev used the attack to warn against the expanding conflict. "If this war is not brought to an end in time, it will continue to expand its geographical scope and increase the risk of even a global conflict," he said. He condemned the targeting of civilian shipping as a direct breach of international maritime rules.

The strike comes just one day after a fire killed two people on a vessel near Romania. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian drones caused that disaster. Moscow has not responded to either incident.

Since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the Black Sea has become increasingly dangerous for commercial shipping. European nations have repeatedly reported Russian drones entering their airspace and mines blocking key trade routes. Security experts warn that these incidents mark a shift toward wider maritime threats.