Symbolic imageBulgaria summons Russian envoy after drones sink cargo ship, 11 sailors missing
Drones hit two cargo ships off Bulgaria's Black Sea coast overnight on Tuesday and sank one. Sofia stopped short of accusing Russia but summoned its ambassador and asked allies for help.
The Guinea-Bissau-flagged HS Dignity sank off Krapets near the Romanian border. Bulgarian officials said five crew were rescued and 11 are missing. The Ukrainian-owned Chelsea 3 was hit by three drones, and all 15 crew were rescued. Prime Minister Rumen Radev called the attacks "absolutely unacceptable" and said there is no solid evidence, but "logic suggests" the outcome benefits Russia. Summoned ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova said she had no information from Moscow and did not rule out a provocation by a third party.
Allies react
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte told Radev the alliance will adjust its eastern-flank posture "as needed". Ursula von der Leyen called the Black Sea "another front of escalation", and Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha blamed Russia.
Second attack in a week
Drones hit two ships in the same area a week earlier and sank one; Daily Sabah reports nine Syrian and one Egyptian sailors were lost. Radev will raise the issue at the European Council on 15 and 16 October.