Bulgaria expects to join a NATO anti-drone initiative by the end of October, Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov has said, as drone attacks on cargo vessels in the Black Sea intensify concerns over maritime security near the alliance’s southeastern borders.
Wednesday’s announcement came a day after a drone strike sank a cargo ship off Bulgaria’s coast for the second time in a week, highlighting the risks facing commercial shipping as Russia’s war against Ukraine continues to affect Black Sea trade routes.
“Bulgaria will be part of this project as soon as possible,” Stoyanov said during a parliamentary hearing, according to local media. He added that the country was expected to join by October 30.
Two ships hit, 11 sailors missing
Two cargo vessels were struck by drones off the Bulgarian coast on October 13. One, the Guinea-Bissau-flagged HS Dignity, sank, leaving 11 sailors missing at sea and prompting Sofia to summon Russia’s ambassador.
Drones had struck two other cargo ships in the same waters on October 6.
Bulgaria’s transport ministry announced on Wednesday afternoon that rescue operations for the missing sailors had been halted because of strong winds, reduced visibility and high waves.
Although Bulgarian authorities have stopped short of directly accusing Moscow of carrying out the attacks, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said on Tuesday that their outcome “benefits the Russian Federation”.
Russia’s ambassador to Sofia, Eleonora Mitrofanova, said she had received no information from Russia’s defence ministry about attacks on commercial vessels. She also suggested that a third party could have carried them out as a provocation, according to the Bulgarian government.
War at sea raises risks for NATO’s Black Sea coast
The attacks have added to concerns that drone warfare linked to the Russia-Ukraine conflict could threaten commercial vessels operating close to NATO members Bulgaria and Romania.
Russia has been bombing Ukrainian Black Sea ports, forcing Kiev to rely increasingly on Danube river ports and shipping routes running close to NATO territory.
Ukraine, meanwhile, has stepped up attacks on Russian grain-exporting vessels in other parts of the Black Sea and near the mouth of the Don River in the Sea of Azov.
Bulgaria’s planned participation in the NATO initiative reflects its push for stronger alliance defences against drones as the conflict’s maritime risks extend beyond the immediate combat zone.
