A cargo ship heading for the Republic of Moldova was hit by drones in the Black Sea. The ship was due to load sunflower seeds, intended for export, in the Port of Giurgiulești.
The ship was attacked approximately 33 kilometers off the coast of Bulgaria. The information was confirmed for bani.md by Elena Arnăut, the head of the General Directorate and the captain of the Giurgiulești port.
According to the official, the vessel was rented in Turkey, by a business agent. The incident occurred while the crew was heading towards their destination.
Following the attack, it was necessary to evacuate the entire crew, consisting of 15 sailors. On board were seven Ukrainian citizens and eight Azerbaijanis. Some of them required medical attention.
Another ship hit by drones in Bulgarian waters was heading towards Brăila. According to hotnews.ro, Bulgarian authorities have declared that five crew members of the sunken ship have been rescued, while 11 are still reported missing.
The attacks were condemned by both Ukraine and the EU. The authorities in Sofia summoned the Russian ambassador, following serious security incidents.
After meeting with Rumen Radev in Sofia, the Russian ambassador, Eleonora Mitrofanova, stated that she does not have information from the Russian Ministry of Defense regarding attacks on commercial ships in the Black Sea, but she did not rule out the possibility that these could be a provocation from a third party.
Although Sofia did not directly accuse Russia of attacks, Prime Minister Radev said that they would be in Moscow’s favor.
The NATO chief, Mark Rutte, mentioned that the North Atlantic Alliance will continue to adapt its military presence on the eastern flank “as necessary” and will adjust its defense and deterrence strategy.