In brief
A container ship was hit by drones off Bulgaria’s coast and sank at midnight. Bulgarian authorities say the vessel carried lithium‑ion batteries and gas oil, and will take seawater samples at several sites to check for petroleum, PCBs and metals. Admiral Emil Eftimov said the drones did not enter territorial waters, while Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov confirmed the attack.
A container ship was struck by three maritime drones on Wednesday about 21 nautical miles southeast of Shabla and sank around midnight. All 18 crew members were rescued and taken to Varna.
The vessel, owned by a Greek company and sailing under a Liberian flag, was reported to have carried lithium‑ion batteries by one Bulgarian news outlet, while another source stated the ship was carrying 421 containers that included light fuel oil, specifically gas oil.
Bulgarian authorities have begun a thorough sea‑water sampling program. The Defence Ministry collected samples from two sites and found no visible signs of pollution. The Environment and Water Ministry will take further samples at five coastal locations—Durankulak, Shabla, Cape Kaliakra, Byala and Sozopol—testing for petroleum products, polychlorinated biphenyls, metals and other physicochemical indicators.
Seawater samples will also be taken in the area around the sunken vessel, with the results to be analyzed at regional laboratories in Varna and Burgas. The purpose is to determine whether pollution has occurred or whether water quality has changed in ways that visual inspection cannot detect.
Rear Admiral Emil Eftimov, Bulgaria’s outgoing Chief of Defence, told reporters that the drones that struck the ship came from the east and did not enter Bulgarian territorial waters. He emphasized that the country’s anti‑drone capabilities are being expanded and that Bulgaria will act if a future threat arises.
Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov confirmed the drone attack during a regional security meeting. He said,
A container ship was hit…with three naval drones, approximately 21 miles southeast of Shabla.
The Maritime Administration Executive Agency inspected the sunken ship and noted that the fuel is expected to evaporate quickly and not reach the Bulgarian coast. They said that no significant adverse effects on the marine environment are expected at this stage.
