Bulgaria steps up surveillance in the Black Sea region

Bulgaria’s Ministry of Defence has announced that it is stepping up surveillance in the Black Sea region using several types of drones. The ministry has informed the public that any such aircraft they spot are likely to be Bulgarian military drones.

The measures follow a series of attacks on commercial vessels in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea.

The sequence of incidents began on October 5, when the vessel Royad Mammadov sank off the Romanian coast, outside the country’s territorial waters. Two people died and 11 others were rescued. Romanian authorities did not officially confirm the cause of the sinking.

The following day, October 6, two commercial ships were attacked by drones about 70 nautical miles from Byala. The Alfa Watan sank, and its crew remained missing. The vessel Able sustained serious damage.

On October 13, two more attacks took place near the Bulgarian coast. The ship HS Dignity sank 17 nautical miles from Shabla. Five sailors were rescued, while another 11 remain missing. On the same day, the Chelsea 3 was hit 17 nautical miles from Byala, but its entire crew was rescued. Both incidents occurred outside Bulgaria’s territorial waters, in their immediate vicinity.

Tensions also rose following further incidents near Romania. A fire was reported aboard the tanker Yara Jay on October 14. Early on October 15, the commercial vessel Wine Trader was also attacked.