Today, Russia deliberately attacked civilian ships in Bulgaria’s economic zone, causing one vessel to sink. The drone strikes occurred 70 to 80 miles off the Bulgarian coast, near Byala. The attacks were precise, with none of the affected ships linked to Ukrainian ports. The ALFA WATAN, flagged under Togo, sank after being hit. This cargo ship was en route from the Egyptian port of Al-Arish to Sulina in Romania. Meanwhile, another vessel, ABLE, flagged under Palau, caught fire due to a drone strike. This ship had loaded in Galati, Romania, and was headed for Turkey. Bulgarian rescuers evacuated 18 crew members from the vessel, with some sustaining injuries. Just a day before, Russian forces struck a ship in Romania’s economic zone. In response to the new attacks, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev convened security officials. The routes of the targeted cargo ships confirm that the strikes are indiscriminate against commercial traffic in the Black Sea. The situation poses a serious threat to international shipping and the safety of NATO’s eastern flank, indicating a shift towards open terror against neutral trade routes, highlighting the inadequacy of traditional diplomatic concerns.
