Symbolic imageGreek container ship sinks after naval drone attack off Bulgaria
The Greek container ship Contship Jet sank on Wednesday after three sea drones hit it in the western Black Sea. All 18 crew were rescued.
The Liberian-flagged ship, carrying 421 containers from Haifa to Constanța, was in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone, outside its territorial waters, the Bulgarian government said. The 14 Filipino and four Ukrainian crew members were taken to Varna. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called for a global maritime truce at a UN Security Council maritime security debate hosted by Greece, saying targeted attacks on civilian merchant ships are completely unacceptable.
Attacker still unclear
Reuters reports it is unclear who carried out the attack. The risk firm Ambrey assessed the drone as likely a variant of Russia's Murena-300S, while former Ukrainian navy officer Andriy Ryzhenko said it matches no Ukrainian model he knows. Moscow denies involvement in recent attacks, and Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev says some appear to benefit Russia. At least six ships have been hit off Bulgaria this month, and government statements put about two dozen seafarers as feared dead.
Hazardous cargo adrift
Novinite, cited by Politika, reports that more than 20 containers fell into the sea, including lithium-ion batteries, acids and flammable liquids, and authorities warned mariners. A first check off Cape Kaliakra showed no visible pollution; water samples will be analysed. Separately, remains believed to be a Russian Geran drone washed ashore near Tsarevo, Bulgaria's defense ministry said.