A Ukrainian-owned ship sank after being hit by drones off Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast on Tuesday, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said.
Mr. Radev said the vessel, the Chelsea 3, sailed under the Maltese flag and was hit by three drones about 18 nautical miles (33 km) off the coast at around 1:30 a.m. Two ships were hit in the incident, and it was the second such attack in a week, he said.
The crew of seven Ukrainians and eight Azerbaijanis were rescued. Five received medical assistance, and nobody was seriously injured, he said.
In a televised address, Mr. Radev called the attack “absolutely unacceptable”. He said there was no clear evidence of who carried it out, but that “the outcome benefits the Russian Federation”.
Bulgaria does not border Ukraine or Russia but is a NATO member with a strategic position on the Black Sea. Mr. Radev said he would speak with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and summon the Russian ambassador.
