Bulgaria has expressed significant concerns over maritime security following recent drone attacks on merchant vessels in its exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea. These incidents, which do not appear to benefit Ukraine and instead seem to favor Russia according to Bulgarian Prime Minister Roumen Radev, have sparked a response from the Bulgarian government. Prime Minister Radev held discussions with Russian Ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova on October 13, emphasizing the potential for these attacks to escalate regional conflict.
Despite the absence of conclusive evidence identifying the origin of the drones, Radev condemned the assaults on commercial shipping as unacceptable. Ambassador Mitrofanova, on her part, stated that she had no information from Russia’s Defence Ministry regarding these events and suggested a possible third-party involvement. Meanwhile, the Bulgarian government is committed to investigating the incidents in collaboration with its European Union and NATO allies.
The impact of these attacks has been immediate and tangible, with increased risks for commercial shipping leading to heightened insurance costs and reluctance among some transport operators to deliver cargo to Bulgarian ports. Additionally, the security and cost of oil supplies to the Burgas refinery have been adversely affected.
In response to these heightened security concerns, Bulgaria is planning to coordinate with neighboring countries Romania and Türkiye to develop joint strategies for safeguarding maritime traffic in the Black Sea. Bulgarian President Iliana Yotova has also voiced strong condemnation of the attacks, labeling them a serious threat to freedom of navigation and the security of supply chains. She called for a prompt investigation and diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions, echoing the recommendations from Bulgaria’s recent Consultative Council on National Security meeting.
