THREE SEA DRONES STRIKE CONTAINER SHIP OFF BULGARIA — ALL 18 CREW RESCUED
Three maritime drones struck the Liberian-flagged container ship Contship Jet off Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast on October 28, forcing its crew to abandon the vessel. All 18 sailors—four Ukrainians and 14 Filipinos—were rescued and are safely ashore, according to the ship’s owner.
Bulgaria’s transport ministry said the vessel was sailing from Haifa, Israel, to Constanța, Romania, carrying 421 containers. The incident was reported approximately 17 nautical miles east of Cape Kaliakra, in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone. Bulgarian naval and border-police vessels responded.
Responsibility for the attack has not been established.
This follows earlier attacks on commercial shipping near Bulgaria. Two vessels were attacked on October 6. On October 13, another two were struck, including the Malta-flagged Chelsea 3, whose 15 crew members included seven Ukrainians. All aboard Chelsea 3 were rescued; five received medical assistance. The other vessel sank.
Ukraine has blamed Russia for earlier attacks, while Moscow has denied involvement. Those accusations do not establish who struck Contship Jet.
The latest attack came as Bulgarian, Romanian and Turkish defense officials met in Sofia to discuss Black Sea security. The three NATO allies condemned attacks on commercial vessels and called for them to stop.
For civilian crews, the danger is immediate. Commercial voyages through the western Black Sea are increasingly bringing sailors into the reach of attacks whose perpetrators remain unidentified.