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11 missing after drone attack on cargo ship off Bulgaria
Published : Tuesday, 13 October, 2026 at 5:16 PM
Observer Online Report
Eleven sailors are missing after a cargo ship was hit by a drone off Bulgaria's Black Sea coast, prompting Bulgarian authorities to summon the Russian ambassador on Monday.
Bulgarian officials said two cargo ships came under drone attacks overnight near the coast, with one of them sinking. All 11 missing sailors were aboard the sunken vessel.
Bulgaria has not directly blamed Russia for the attack, but Prime Minister Rumen Radev said preliminary findings pointed towards Moscow.
There was no immediate response from Moscow.
Speaking in a televised address, Radev said the attack was “completely unacceptable”, as it occurred close to Bulgaria's territorial waters.
Ukraine and the European Union also condemned the attacks.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote on social media platform X that the Black Sea had become another front in the escalation of Russia's war in Ukraine.
“Those responsible must be held accountable,” she said.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said, the attack once again demonstrated Moscow's disregard for civilian lives.
“The Black Sea is a lifeline for global food security,” he wrote on X, accusing Russia of targeting the region to use hunger as a weapon and hold the world hostage.
Bulgarian officials said five sailors were rescued from the sunken vessel near the coastal village of Krapets, while 11 remained missing.
According to Bulgarian media reports, the ship was named 'Azov Concord' and was owned by a company based in Turkey. The company could not immediately be reached for comment.
Officials said, another vessel, the Malta-flagged 'Chelsea 3', was also hit by three drone attacks overnight. All 15 crew members -seven Ukrainians and eight Azerbaijanis - were rescued, with none reported to have suffered serious injuries.
A week earlier, another ship sank after a drone attack in Bulgaria.
-MT
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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
