Houthi drone strikes sink ship off Bulgaria's Black Sea coast

On October 13, 2026, aerial drones struck two commercial vessels off Bulgaria's Black Sea coast, sinking one ship and damaging the Ukrainian-owned Chelsea 3. All 15 crew members of the Chelsea 3 were rescued, while one survivor was recovered from the sunken ship. Calling the strikes unacceptable, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev sought assistance from NATO and the European Union and scheduled talks with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. Radev noted that while direct evidence is lacking, the outcome benefits Russia.

Black Sea drone strikes

• ▪The Ukrainian-owned, Maltese-flagged cargo ship Chelsea 3 was struck and damaged by three aerial drones approximately 18 nautical miles off the Bulgarian coast around 1:30 a.m. on October 13, 2026
• ▪Aerial drones struck two commercial ships in the Black Sea off the coast of Bulgaria on October 13, 2026, causing one vessel to sink

Crew rescue operations

• ▪Emergency responders rescued one crew member from a vessel that sank during the October 13, 2026 Black Sea drone attacks
• ▪Rescuers evacuated all 15 crew members from the Chelsea 3 following the October 13, 2026 Black Sea drone strike, with five crew members receiving medical treatment for minor injuries

Suspected Russian involvement

• ▪The Russian Defence Ministry and the Russian Embassy in Sofia denied responsibility for an October 6, 2026 Black Sea attack, stating the vessel Alfa Watan was not among targets hit by Russian drones
• ▪Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced plans on October 13, 2026 to summon Russian Ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova regarding the October 13, 2026 Black Sea drone strikes
• ▪Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev stated on October 13, 2026 that while Bulgaria lacks clear evidence identifying who conducted the October 13, 2026 Black Sea drone strikes, the outcome benefits Russia

NATO consultation request

• ▪Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev scheduled a conference with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte following the October 13, 2026 Black Sea drone strikes
• ▪Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev declared the October 13, 2026 drone attacks off the Bulgarian coast unacceptable and requested assistance from NATO and the European Union

Repeated attacks near Bulgaria

• ▪On October 6, 2026, drone strikes hit two merchant vessels in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea, sinking the Togo-flagged Alfa Watan while damaging the grain-carrying ship Able
• ▪A drone attack prior to October 13, 2026 struck a Turkish-owned cargo ship carrying corn off the Romanian coast, killing two people and causing the vessel to sink

Debatable claims

• ▪NATO should deploy naval forces to protect commercial shipping in the Black Sea
• ▪Russia bears responsibility for the drone strikes on commercial ships off Bulgaria