“Absolutely Unacceptable”: 11 Crew Missing After Drone Strikes Hit Ships Near Bulgaria

Two merchant ships were struck by drones off Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast on October 13, 2026. One vessel sank, leaving 11 crew members missing; one sailor was rescued. The second ship, identified as the Ukrainian-owned Chelsea-3, was hit near Byala, and all 15 crew members were rescued. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev called the attack “absolutely unacceptable” and summoned Russia’s ambassador. Ukraine blamed Russia, while Bulgarian officials said responsibility had not been conclusively established. The incidents came a week after separate drone strikes damaged two other commercial ships in the area.