Brief
Bulgaria’s president says Russia’s war in Ukraine is eroding Black Sea security
Yotova warned of a “significant deterioration” in the Black Sea security environment following two drone strikes on ships off Bulgaria.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Bulgaria’s president Iliana Yotova told reporters on 7 October that Russia’s war in Ukraine has caused a “significant deterioration” of security in the Black Sea, after an emergency Security Council meeting following drone attacks on commercial vessels.
What happened
On 6 October, two drones struck commercial ships about 80 miles (128 km) off Bulgaria’s coast. The Togo‑flagged bulk carrier Alfa Watan suffered critical damage and sank, while the Palau‑flagged vessel Able caught fire and was evacuated, saving all 18 crew members.
What the reports add
The Independent reported that senior officials condemned the attacks as a violation of international law and called for a rapid investigation. Vice Admiral Rumen Nikolov, who led the rescue, said no survivors or bodies were found from Alfa Watan and that the explosion was “extremely powerful.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy blamed Russia for the strikes, while the Russian embassy in Sofia denied involvement, stating the drones were not among targets hit by Russian forces.
What was said
Yotova said, “Russia’s war against Ukraine has led to a significant deterioration of the security environment in the Black Sea region.” She added that “there is a growing trend of attacks by maritime and aerial drones against commercial vessels, leading to damage and the sinking of ships, as well as loss of life.” The Russian embassy said, “they were not among the targets hit by Russian armed forces.”
How it came about
The attacks follow a series of maritime incidents in the Black Sea linked to the wider conflict, including the 6 October drone strike that Felo previously covered (Bulgaria reports missing crew after drone strike sinks Togo‑flagged ship in Black Sea). Yotova’s remarks connect the growing drone threat to the broader security fallout from Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Key facts
- Two commercial vessels were hit by drones off Bulgaria on 6 October 2026. (independent.co.uk)
- The Togo‑flagged Alfa Watan sank after the strike; the Palau‑flagged Able caught fire but its crew was rescued. (independent.co.uk)
- President Iliana Yotova said Russia’s war in Ukraine is causing a significant deterioration of Black Sea security. (independent.co.uk)
- Ukrainian President Zelenskyy blamed Russia for the drone attacks; the Russian embassy denied involvement. (independent.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “Bulgaria's president blames Russia's war in Ukraine for worsening security environment in Black Sea”
