Bulgaria says Russia was likely behind Black Sea drone strikes as rescue operations continue

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Bulgaria on Wednesday said Russia was likely behind drone attacks that struck four ships in the Black Sea in the past week, sinking two, but there was no way of proving Moscow’s culpability.

Rescuers are still searching for 11 crew members missing after drone strikes on Tuesday sank two ships in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone and adjacent waters, while five other crew members were rescued.

One of the ships is registered to Guinea-Bissau but the other one, the Chelsea-3, is Ukrainian-owned, registered in Odesa and sails under the flag of Malta, a European Union member.

“There is no logic in Ukraine attacking its own ships and crews, given that the outcome of all these attacks favors Russia — and indeed, the logic points in that direction. The problem is that we cannot prove it,” Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev told Parliament.

Radev on Tuesday summoned the Russian ambassador to Sofia, who said she does not have any information from the Russian defense ministry but she did not rule out the possibility that “these attacks represent a provocation by a third party.”

The Guinea-Bissau-flagged cargo ship Dignity sank Tuesday after it was hit by a military strike. Four sailors, three Syrian nationals and one Egyptian, were rescued and arrived in the port of Varna, district Gov. Mario Smarkov said.

“All four appeared to be in relatively good condition and had sustained no injuries,” he said. A fifth sailor is expected to arrive later on Wednesday.

Smarkov said the search for the 11 missing crew members continues.

Bulgaria has requested international assistance for the investigation into attacks on commercial vessels, as well as NATO support to strengthen surveillance and control systems and response capabilities against drone attacks.

President Iliana Yotova called for an immediate halt to hostilities in the Black Sea and a moratorium on drone attacks against commercial and civilian infrastructure, following the latest drone attacks.

“The unprecedented attacks demonstrate that the war has reached the Black Sea and that the conflict is intensifying,” Yotova said in a TV interview on Tuesday.

She explained that coordinated steps have been taken with her colleagues from Romania and Turkey in the wake of the growing risks and dangers in the Black Sea basin.

“The aim is a moratorium on the use of drones over the Black Sea against commercial and civilian infrastructure and to halt hostilities over the sea,” Yotova said.

In a separate incident, Radev confirmed an attack on Starlink antennas near the capital, Sofia, but did not elaborate citing an ongoing investigation.

Radev, who was answering questions in Parliament about the attacks on merchant ships in the Black Sea, was asked by opposition lawmakers about details of an alleged arson of communication devices with the Starlink satellite system on Tuesday.

“The investigation is being worked on with partner services and is extremely intensive, with a result expected soon,” Radev said, adding that any “premature disclosure could hinder the investigation.”

Opposition MPs posted on social media that two masked men deliberately set fire to 11 of the 17 antennas used to connect to SpaceX’s Starlink satellite system at a site in the Sofia area.