Bulgaria seeks Nato support after Black Sea drone strikes hit merchant ships, sinking 1

On Tuesday, drone strikes targeted two merchant vessels in the Black Sea off the coast of Bulgaria, resulting in the sinking of at least one ship and triggering emergency rescue operations. The attacks have prompted the Bulgarian government to seek formal support from NATO to address the security situation in the region.

Conflicting reports regarding the casualties and the identity of the vessels remain, with accounts citing between five and 15 crew members rescued and up to 11 individuals missing. The incidents involved vessels identified as the Maltese-flagged Chelsea 3 and the Turkish-owned Azov Concord, with additional reports noting a second Ukrainian-owned vessel was also struck.