Two commercial vessels were struck by drones and explosive watercraft off the Bulgarian coast on October 13, 2026, leaving 11 sailors missing. The incident, following a similar attack a week earlier, has prompted Bulgaria to summon the Russian ambassador and seek urgent technical and defense assistance from NATO and the European Union.
Attacks on HS Dignity and Chelsea-3
The maritime security situation in the Black Sea deteriorated sharply on Tuesday, October 13, when two separate commercial vessels were targeted within minutes of each other. According to the Bulgarian Ministry of Transport and Communications, the vessel Chelsea-3, sailing under a Maltese flag, was hit by three drones at 01:15 local time while approximately 17 nautical miles east of Varna. The ship, which was carrying cargo, had departed from the Turkish port of Giresun bound for Giurgiulesti, Moldova.
I spoke with Bulgarian PM @RumenRadevPM about the latest attacks on commercial shipping in the Black Sea. NATO will continue to work closely with our Allies in the Black Sea. We have already strengthened our posture along the eastern flank and will continue to monitor the…
Moments later, at 01:20, the vessel HS Dignity, registered in Guinea-Bissau, came under a more severe assault. Captain Ashraf Mamdouh, a senior officer on board, reported that the ship was struck by a drone and two explosive-laden boats within a 15-minute window. The rapid sequence of attacks caused the vessel to sink within five minutes. The HS Dignity had been traveling from the Algerian port of Mostaganem toward the Romanian port of Braila. The crew of the sunken vessel consisted of 14 Syrians and two Egyptians; five sailors were rescued, including four Syrians and one Egyptian.
Bulgaria Summons Russian Ambassador After Black Sea Incidents
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev condemned the incidents and confirmed the government would summon the Russian ambassador. While Radev noted that Bulgaria lacks definitive evidence to attribute the strikes to a specific party, he stated that the events serve the interests of Russia
. Radev requested technical assistance from the European Maritime Safety Agency and urged both NATO and the European Union to prioritize the security of the Black Sea.
NATO General Mark Rutte confirmed that the alliance is monitoring the security environment and adjusting its deterrence and defense posture as needed. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen denounced the attacks, stating, This is unacceptable. I strongly condemn the drone attacks on commercial ships off the Bulgarian coast, which put crew lives at serious risk and threaten security in the Black Sea. The NATO commander, General Alexus Grinkevich, issued a warning that any attack on an alliance member would be deemed futile, as the alliance continues to reinforce its eastern flank.
Escalating Risks to Black Sea Trade
This incident marks the second time in a week that commercial vessels have been attacked in the Bulgarian Exclusive Economic Zone. A second ship involved in that earlier incident, the Palau-registered Apple, caught fire but was saved after its 18-member crew was rescued.
The search for the 11 missing sailors from the HS Dignity was officially suspended on October 14 due to adverse weather conditions. Industry analysts from the maritime risk group Ambrey have noted a significant increase in such incidents, with 45 attacks on merchant ships recorded in the last year, suggesting that the conflict zone has expanded into areas previously considered safe for commercial transit. Bulgarian authorities, including the border police and maritime administration, continue to monitor the area, while the Syrian Sailors’ Syndicate has urged its members to exercise caution when navigating regions now classified as high-risk.
The Black Sea has become another front of escalation of the Russian war in Ukraine. This is unacceptable.I strongly condemn the drone attacks on merchant ships near Bulgaria’s coast.Putting the lives of the crew in grave danger and threatening security in the Black Sea.We…
