Drone attacks on commercial ships have surged in the Black Sea, prompting Bulgaria and Romania to seek NATO support as two vessels are damaged and six crew members are missing.
Drone attacks escalate in the Black Sea
A sharp increase in drone attacks has been reported in the Black Sea, with two new commercial ships targeted off the Bulgarian coast. This follows previous attacks in the region, raising concerns about maritime security.Bulgaria seeks NATO support
Bulgaria, facing resource limitations, has requested assistance from NATO. Following an attack on two ships in its economic zone on October 6, two additional commercial vessels were targeted by drones. Neighboring Romania also experienced a similar incident a few days later.Repetition of attacks in Bulgaria
A week after the October 6 attack, the situation repeated itself with two more commercial ships targeted by drones off the Bulgarian coast. The Chelsea-3, flying the Maltese flag, was severely damaged, but its 15-person crew was rescued by Bulgarian border guards.Sinking of a ship and missing crew
During an emergency government meeting, another ship, the HS Dignity, registered in Guinea-Bissau, sank 17 nautical miles (approximately 31 km) from the Bulgarian coast. Six crew members, Syrians and Egyptians, are reported missing.Romania faces similar threats
Two days later, on October 15, the same scenario repeated on the Romanian side. On the 17th, two more drones were shot down by Romanian fighter jets, highlighting the ongoing threat in the region.
