Zelenskyi: Russia attacked two vessels off Bulgaria, Ukraine's Defense Forces conducted no operations in the area
According to the Ukrainian head of state, Ukrainian intelligence and security services are investigating all available details regarding the incident.
At the same time, the Ukrainian Navy has already contacted its Bulgarian counterparts and established that Russia launched a combined attack using naval and aerial drones.
"I instructed our armed forces, Ukraine's Ministry of Defense, our intelligence, and all our services to interact as fully as possible with our partners to expand capabilities for mutual defense," Zelenskyi stated.
According to information from Bulgarian and Romanian authorities, drones attacked merchant vessels within Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea — the Togo-flagged general cargo ship ALFA WATAN and the Palau-flagged general cargo ship ABLE.
The ALFA WATAN sank following the attack. Romania's Ministry of Internal Affairs reported two dead and 11 rescued crew members. Rescuers managed to save all 18 crew members aboard the second vessel, which a passenger ferry picked up.
It is worth noting that Bulgarian Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov stated it remains impossible to determine whether the drones that struck the two ships were Ukrainian or Russian. According to him, the incident reflects a deliberate attack rather than an accident. He also noted that Bulgaria might have become part of what he described as a "hybrid war between Ukraine and Russia."
"We are obviously part of a hybrid war between Ukraine and Russia, regardless of which specific side is involved. This is part of the war waged right next to us. There is nothing surprising in this," the defense minister emphasized.
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8 of October 2026
