• A drone attack off Bulgaria’s coast resulted in the sinking of a merchant ship and damage to another.
• All 15 crew members of the Ukrainian-owned Chelsea 3 were rescued after their vessel was struck by three drones.
• Bulgarian PM Rumen Radev condemned the attacks and summoned the Russian ambassador for discussions.
• Concerns are escalating over the security of commercial shipping in the Black Sea amid ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

A drone attack off Bulgaria's Black Sea coast has sunk a merchant ship and damaged another. The Ukrainian-owned vessel Chelsea 3 was struck by three drones approximately 18 nautical miles from the coast, according to Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev. All 15 crew members were rescued, with five receiving minor medical assistance, while the other ship, which sank, had one crew member saved. Radev labelled the incident as "absolutely unacceptable," adding that he would address NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte regarding the security implications of these attacks, according to Al Jazeera and BBC.

This incident marks the second drone attack in just over a week, with Radev noting that earlier strikes resulted in the sinking of the Togo-flagged cargo ship Alfa Watan, claiming the lives of ten crew members. The prime minister indicated there was no definitive evidence linking any state to these attacks, but suggested that "the outcome benefits the Russian Federation," leading him to summon Russia's ambassador. This reflects increasing concerns about the security of commercial vessels in a region already fraught with geopolitical tensions, according to India Times, Al Jazeera, and BBC.

The Black Sea is a strategic trade route, vital for grain and other commodities, particularly for Ukraine. Observations made by Ukrainian officials, coupled with comments from European leaders, emphasize that the attacks may be part of a broader tactic by Russia to disrupt maritime trade and leverage hunger as a weapon against Ukraine and its allies. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha remarked that Russia’s actions show a "deliberate disregard for civilian lives," indicating that the Black Sea is increasingly fraught with risks for commercial shipping, according to BBC and India Times.