Advisory Council on National Security
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Drones strike two cargo ships off Bulgaria in the Black Sea, one sinks
Drones attacked two commercial vessels in the Black Sea off Bulgaria's coast overnight into 13 October 2026, sinking one ship and prompting Bulgaria to summon Russia's ambassador and appeal to the EU and NATO. One vessel, the Maltese-flagged CHELSEA 3 registered in Odesa, was struck by three aerial drones; all 15 crew members, including seven Ukrainians, were evacuated to Varna. The incident follows a similar attack on two ships on 6 October in Bulgaria's waters.