Eleven Missing After Drone Strikes Hit Ships Off Bulgaria

Two merchant ships came under attack off the Bulgarian coast, resulting in one vessel sinking and the disappearance of eleven crew members. The incidents occurred in the Black Sea region, intensifying concerns over maritime safety in contested waters.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev summoned Russia's ambassador to Sofia following the strikes. One of the vessels, a Ukrainian-owned cargo ship, was targeted by drone strikes, while a second ship was also hit further north along the coast.

The sinking of one vessel has prompted an immediate search and rescue operation. The exact circumstances of how the second vessel was struck remain under investigation by Bulgarian maritime authorities.

The attacks underscore the expanding scope of hostilities in the Black Sea, which has become an increasingly dangerous corridor for commercial shipping. Regional governments have expressed alarm over threats to merchant traffic and freedom of navigation in international waters.