The Black Sea has become a dangerous flashpoint as civilian shipping vessels fall victim to drone strikes within Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone. A Turkish-owned cargo ship, the Togo-flagged Alfa Watan, sank early Wednesday morning following a drone attack approximately 70 miles off the Bulgarian coast, leaving its crew missing.
A second vessel, the Palau-flagged Able, which was transporting grain, was also struck in the same vicinity. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev confirmed that while 18 crew members from the Able were rescued by Bulgarian sailors, the situation remains dire.
These attacks represent a significant expansion of the conflict, occurring deep within Bulgarian waters. While Bulgarian officials have stopped short of explicitly naming the perpetrator, the strikes coincide with Russia’s intensified campaign in the region and follow a series of tit-for-tat escalations between Moscow and Kyiv.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the targeting of commercial shipping as unacceptable, as the international community watches with growing concern. With civilian lives lost and vital trade routes under fire, the risk of the conflict spilling over into a wider regional crisis continues to mount.
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