Bulgaria Calls for EU, NATO, Turkey and Romania to Aid Black Sea Security
With the security situation deteriorating in the Black Sea, Bulgarian officials are calling for the European Union and NATO to support the efforts to enhance security, while Bulgaria says it is also working with Turkey and Romania for increased regional security. The action came after the report of two more vessels struck early on Tuesday off the coast of Bulgaria, with 11 seafarers feared killed, bringing the death toll to over 20 seafarers after four ships were attacked in less than a week.
Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Rumen Radev said the attacks in the vicinity of Bulgaria’s territorial waters were “absolutely unacceptable.” He called an emergency meeting of the Security Council while also initiating calls to the President of the European Commission and the Secretary General of NATO. He also reported that the Defense Minister was contacting his colleagues in Turkey and Romania while saying they would also raise the issue at the European Council meeting on October 15 and 16.
“We do not have clear and conclusive evidence to attribute responsibility to either side. However, as I have already stated, the logic suggests that the outcome benefits the Russian Federation. I will therefore summon the Russian Ambassador for a meeting today,” said Radev.
Reporting the still-developing situation, the Prime Minister’s office added, “There’s no logic for Ukraine destroying its own ships.” It said the strikes work to Russia’s advantage. This came after Bulgarian officials last week refused to assign responsibility after the first two ships were struck, sinking one and leaving 10 seafarers missing.
Bulgaria’s Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov added that the “situation in the Black Sea is becoming increasingly complex.” He said it would require coordination with the neighboring countries and the support of NATO.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen responded, also calling the situation “unacceptable,” while saying, “The Black Sea has become another front of escalation of the Russian war in Ukraine.” She called for those responsible to be held accountable.
Rescue of the crew from the cargo ship Chelsea-3
The increased calls for action came as Bulgaria provided additional details on the attacks that happened shortly after 0100 on Tuesday, October 13. It said the Border Police had sent a vessel with a crew of nine in response to the calls from the Chelsea-3 (5827 dwt), which was 16 nautical miles off the coast of Bulgaria. Built in 2006, the general cargo ship is owned by Ukrainian interests and sailing under the flag of Malta. According to the reports, it was empty, heading to Moldova to load a cargo of sunflower seeds.
The crew consisted of seven Ukrainians and eight Azerbaijanis, with five reportedly injured. They were all successfully evacuated by the Bulgarian patrol boat and brought to shore for medical treatment. Images show a large hole in the side of the vessel, which was settling at the stern. The Bulgarian authorities said the ship was struck by three drones.
Approximately five minutes after the Chelsea-3 reported being struck, the Guinea-Bissau-flagged HS Dignity (8,642 dwt) reported it had been hit and was sinking approximately 17 nautical miles off the coast. Two other vessels in the area, Azov Concord and Scandi Asserter, responded, reportedly rescuing five seafarers.
A search was underway for 11 other crewmembers who remained missing. The crew is said to have been made up of Syrians and Egyptians. The ship was sailing empty from Algeria to Romania.
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Radev said Bulgaria is seeking support from the EU and NATO to strengthen its capabilities for surveillance and to control the maritime and airspace. Further, it requested assistance in investigating the strikes to determine the source of the strikes. Last week, Bulgaria, facing pressure from the EU, sent teams to search the Black Sea and boarded a damaged cargo ship looking for debris and evidence from the suspected drones but said it had not found identifiable fragments.
The officials said that while Bulgaria is not a party to the war, it is suffering significant economic and financial damage. It follows earlier warnings last week that the situation is now risking becoming a wider regional conflict.
