Drones sink ships near NATO countries, EU calls attacks unacceptable

Drones sank two cargo ships and damaged a third in the exclusive economic zones of NATO member countries for the first time, resulting in the deaths of at least two sailors. These attacks represent a significant escalation in assaults targeting commercial shipping in the Black Sea amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev characterized the incidents as "an unacceptable attack in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone" and "a blatant violation of international and maritime law." The Togo-flagged cargo ship Alfa Watan sank, and the Palau-flagged cargo ship Able was set ablaze after being struck by multiple sea and aerial drones approximately 128 kilometers off the coast of Bulgaria on October 6.

The fate of the Alfa Watan's crew was not immediately clear after its sinking. A Bulgarian ferry successfully evacuated Able's 18 crew members, with two severely injured sailors airlifted to a hospital in the city of Varna.

The incidents have fueled accusations of "hybrid warfare" tactics, with Russia previously alleged to have engaged in similar disruptive actions across Europe. Attacks on commercial shipping traffic have become increasingly frequent since the conflict began, impacting global trade routes.