()   (../../../../static.themoscowtimes.com/img/icons/favicon.ico) (https://plus.google.com/114467228383524488842)  (https://static.themoscowtimes.com/img/icons/apple-touch-icon-152x152.png) (https://static.themoscowtimes.com/img/icons/apple-touch-icon-144x144.png) (https://static.themoscowtimes.com/img/icons/apple-touch-icon-120x120.png) (https://static.themoscowtimes.com/img/icons/apple-touch-icon-114x114.png) (https://static.themoscowtimes.com/img/icons/apple-touch-icon-76x76.png) (https://static.themoscowtimes.com/img/icons/apple-touch-icon-72x72.png) (https://static.themoscowtimes.com/img/icons/apple-touch-icon-57x57.png)    Bulgaria Summons Russian Ambassador After Drone Attack Sinks Ship, Leaving 11 Missing - The Moscow Times (bulgaria-summons-russian-ambassador-after-drone-attack-sinks-ship-leaving-11-missing-a93963.html) (../../../../static.themoscowtimes.com/css/main.css@v=88.css)  (https://www.google-analytics.com/)       (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/) (The Moscow Times - Independent News from Russia) (The Moscow Times)   Support The Moscow Times! (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/contribute?utm_source=contribute&utm_medium=internal-header) Contribute today  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/account)   (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/account)  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/account) My account (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/account/signout) Signout        ×  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/#) Sections (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/) Home  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/ukraine-war) Ukraine War  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/news) News   (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/opinion) Opinion  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/business) Business  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/arts-and-life) Arts and Life    (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/#)  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/tag/Regions) Regions  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/podcasts) Podcasts  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/galleries) Galleries  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/newsletters) Newsletters  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/lectures) TMT Lecture Series  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/search) Archive    (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/#) Multimedia projects (https://mothersanddaughters.themoscowtimes.com/) Mothers & Daughters  (https://generationp.themoscowtimes.com/) Generation P            (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/) (The Moscow Times - Independent News from Russia) (The Moscow Times)    (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/news) News  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/ukraine-war) Ukraine War  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/tag/Regions) Regions  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/business) Business  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/opinion) Opinion  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/arts-and-life) Arts & Life  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/podcasts) Podcasts  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/search) Archive   (https://ru.themoscowtimes.com)     RU   (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/search) (Search)   (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/account)   (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/account)  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/account) My account (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/account/signout) Signout         Support The Moscow Times!  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/contribute?utm_source=contribute&utm_medium=internal-header-mobile) Contribute today     (bulgaria-summons-russian-ambassador-after-drone-attack-sinks-ship-leaving-11-missing-a93963.html) Bulgaria Summons Russian Ambassador After Drone Attack Sinks Ship, Leaving 11 Missing    (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/author/reuters) (Reuters)   By (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/author/reuters) (Reuters) Reuters  Oct. 13, 2026     (https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/13/bulgaria-summons-russian-ambassador-after-drone-attack-sinks-ship-leaving-11-missing-a93963) (Share on Facebook)   (https://twitter.com/intent/tweet/?url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/13/bulgaria-summons-russian-ambassador-after-drone-attack-sinks-ship-leaving-11-missing-a93963&text=Bulgaria Summons Russian Ambassador After Drone Attack Sinks Ship, Leaving 11 Missing) (Share on Twitter)   (https://telegram.me/share/url?url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/13/bulgaria-summons-russian-ambassador-after-drone-attack-sinks-ship-leaving-11-missing-a93963) (Share on Telegram)   (https://wa.me/?text=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/13/bulgaria-summons-russian-ambassador-after-drone-attack-sinks-ship-leaving-11-missing-a93963) (Share on WhatsApp)   (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#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) (Share with email)   (https://flipboard.com) (Share on Flipboard)   (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/13/bulgaria-summons-russian-ambassador-after-drone-attack-sinks-ship-leaving-11-missing-a93963/pdf) (Download as PDF)         A vessel that was hit by a drone in the Black Sea.  Bulgarian Interior Ministry / Handout via REUTERS    Eleven sailors were missing at sea on Tuesday from a ship sunk by a drone attack off the coast of Bulgaria, possibly the second deadly sinking of a cargo vessel in the area in a week, prompting Bulgaria to summon Russia's ambassador. Two cargo ships were hit by drones overnight and one was sunk, Bulgarian officials said. Bulgaria stopped short of explicitly accusing Russia of carrying out the attacks but Prime Minister Rumen Radev said their outcome "benefits the Russian Federation." There was no immediate comment from Moscow on the incidents. "This is absolutely unacceptable — another attack in the immediate vicinity of Bulgarian territorial waters," Radev said in a televised address. The attacks were also condemned by Ukraine and the EU. "The Black Sea has become another front of escalation of the Russian war in Ukraine," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on X. "Those responsible should be held accountable." Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on X on Tuesday that the strike "once again demonstrates Moscow's deliberate disregard for civilian lives." "The Black Sea is a lifeline for global food security. Russia is attacking it to weaponize hunger and hold the world hostage," he said. Speaking with von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte by telephone on Tuesday, Radev urged their support to bolster his country's maritime and airspace surveillance, the Bulgarian government said in a statement. NATO will continue to adjust its military presence on its eastern flank "as needed," Rutte said. Black Sea shipping drawn into war Bulgarian officials said five crew members had been rescued but 11 were still listed as missing from the ship which sank off the coast of the village of Krapets. President Iliana Iotova identified the vessel as the Guinea-Bissau-flagged cargo ship HS Dignity and said a search and rescue operation was ongoing. Another ship, the Chelsea 3 sailing under a Maltese flag, was also hit by three drones overnight, Bulgarian officials said. All crew from that ship — seven Ukrainians and eight Azerbaijanis — were rescued and none seriously injured. A week ago nine Syrian sailors and one Egyptian were lost at sea from a ship that sank when hit by drones in Bulgaria's Black Sea exclusive economic zone. Another ship was also hit that night but the crew was rescued. After meeting Radev in Sofia, Russian Ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova said she had no information from the Russian Defense Ministry about attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea but did not rule out they could be a provocation by a third party, the Bulgarian government said. More than four and a half years into the war that Moscow launched with its full-scale invasion in 2022, Black Sea shipping has increasingly been drawn into a prolonged battle of economic endurance. Ukraine and Russia are both among the world's largest exporters of grain. Russia has been bombing Ukraine's Black Sea ports, forcing Ukraine to rely increasingly on river ports on the Danube and shipping routes close to the coasts of NATO members Bulgaria and Romania. Ukraine, for its part, has increasingly targeted Russian grain-exporting ships in other parts of the Black Sea and the Azov Sea at the mouth of the Don River.    Read more about: (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/tag/bulgaria) (Bulgaria) Bulgaria , (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/tag/black-sea) (Black Sea) Black Sea , (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/tag/drones) (Drones) Drones   Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/newsletterpreview/article) Preview  (Your email)  (Your name)  Subscribe  Subscribers agree to the (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/page/privacy-policy) Privacy Policy    We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription.    A Message from The Moscow Times:  Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/contribute?utm_source=contribute&utm_medium=article) (we need your help) we need your help . Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $ 2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once  Monthly  Annual       Continue   (paiment methods)    Not ready to support today?  Remind me later .  × Remind me next month   (Email)  Remind me    Thank you! Your reminder is set.  We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/page/privacy-policy) (privacy policy) Privacy Policy .    (https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/13/bulgaria-summons-russian-ambassador-after-drone-attack-sinks-ship-leaving-11-missing-a93963) (Share on Facebook)   (https://twitter.com/intent/tweet/?url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/13/bulgaria-summons-russian-ambassador-after-drone-attack-sinks-ship-leaving-11-missing-a93963&text=Bulgaria Summons Russian Ambassador After Drone Attack Sinks Ship, Leaving 11 Missing) (Share on Twitter)   (https://telegram.me/share/url?url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/13/bulgaria-summons-russian-ambassador-after-drone-attack-sinks-ship-leaving-11-missing-a93963) (Share on Telegram)   (https://wa.me/?text=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/13/bulgaria-summons-russian-ambassador-after-drone-attack-sinks-ship-leaving-11-missing-a93963) (Share on WhatsApp)   (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#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) (Share with email)   (https://flipboard.com) (Share on Flipboard)   (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/13/bulgaria-summons-russian-ambassador-after-drone-attack-sinks-ship-leaving-11-missing-a93963/pdf) (Download as PDF)       Most read  Just in   (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/14/government-says-it-helped-yandex-migrate-systems-after-data-center-attacks-a93979) (Government Says It Helped Yandex Migrate Systems After Data Center Attacks) Oct. 14, 2026  Government Says It Helped Yandex Migrate Systems After Data Center Attacks     (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/14/nord-stream-may-have-been-lawful-target-argue-lawyers-for-ukrainian-accused-of-bombing-a93972) (Nord Stream May Have Been Lawful Target, Argue Lawyers for Ukrainian Accused of Bombing) Oct. 14, 2026  Nord Stream May Have Been Lawful Target, Argue Lawyers for Ukrainian Accused of Bombing     (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/14/moscow-hails-trump-diesel-deal-says-exports-will-reach-us-a93977) (Moscow Hails Trump Diesel Deal, Promises Direct Exports to U.S.) Oct. 14, 2026  Moscow Hails Trump Diesel Deal, Promises Direct Exports to U.S.     (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/14/fire-spreads-at-rostov-oil-terminal-after-drone-attack-a93978) (Fire Spreads at Rostov Oil Terminal After Drone Attack) Oct. 14, 2026  Fire Spreads at Rostov Oil Terminal After Drone Attack     (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/14/russia-announces-visas-for-citizens-of-montenegro-in-reciprocal-move-a93974) (Russia Announces Visas for Citizens of Montenegro in Reciprocal Move) Oct. 14, 2026  Russia Announces Visas for Citizens of Montenegro in Reciprocal Move     (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/14/putin-convenes-top-russian-officials-to-discuss-cybersecurity-a93975) (Putin Convenes Top Russian Officials to Discuss Cybersecurity) Oct. 14, 2026  Putin Convenes Top Russian Officials to Discuss Cybersecurity     (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/14/russian-supreme-court-bans-ingush-sufi-muslim-order-as-extremist-a93973) (Russian Supreme Court Bans Ingush Sufi Muslim Order as ‘Extremist’) Oct. 14, 2026  Russian Supreme Court Bans Ingush Sufi Muslim Order as ‘Extremist’       (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/14/russia-arrests-japanese-journalist-on-suspicion-of-spying-a93966) (Russia Arrests Japanese Journalist on Suspicion of Spying) 1  Russia Arrests Japanese Journalist on Suspicion of Spying      (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/14/ukrainian-drones-hit-sberbank-data-center-after-yandex-attacks-a93967) (Ukrainian Drones Hit Sberbank Data Center After Yandex Attacks) 2  Ukrainian Drones Hit Sberbank Data Center After Yandex Attacks      (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/14/russias-krasnodar-region-raises-alert-as-oil-washes-ashore-on-black-sea-coast-a93969) (Russia’s Krasnodar Region Raises Alert as Oil Washes Ashore on Black Sea Coast) 3  Russia’s Krasnodar Region Raises Alert as Oil Washes Ashore on Black Sea Coast      (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/14/ukraine-accuses-spacex-of-crippling-drone-missions-as-ties-with-us-worsen-a93970) (Ukraine Accuses SpaceX of Crippling Drone Missions as Ties With U.S. Worsen) 4  Ukraine Accuses SpaceX of Crippling Drone Missions as Ties With U.S. Worsen      (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/14/russia-fumes-as-top-gymnasts-blocked-from-world-championships-in-netherlands-a93968) (Russia Fumes as Top Gymnasts Blocked From World Championships in Netherlands) 5  Russia Fumes as Top Gymnasts Blocked From World Championships in Netherlands               Read more   (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/08/04/turkey-calls-for-safe-navigation-in-black-sea-after-drones-strike-commercial-ships-a93411) (Turkey Calls for Safe Navigation in Black Sea After Drones Strike Commercial Ships)    Turkey Calls for Safe Navigation in Black Sea After Drones Strike Commercial Ships  The Turkish Foreign Ministry said the civilian ships Yasar and Nadezhda were attacked after departing Novorossiysk on Monday evening, injuring several... 2 Min read      (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/03/05/russian-drone-struck-civilian-cargo-ship-in-black-sea-ukraine-claims-a92124) (Russian Drone Struck Civilian Cargo Ship in Black Sea, Ukraine Claims)    Russian Drone Struck Civilian Cargo Ship in Black Sea, Ukraine Claims  Odesa region Governor Oleh Kiper said several crew members of the Panamanian-flagged ship were wounded in the attack. 1 Min read      (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/03/02/ukraine-hits-key-russian-oil-terminal-after-us-warning-a92086) (Ukraine Hits Key Russian Oil Terminal After U.S. Warning)    Ukraine Hits Key Russian Oil Terminal After U.S. Warning  Ukraine’s General Staff has previously said the Sheskharis oil terminal supports Russian forces fighting in Ukraine. 2 Min read      (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/03/17/russia-to-award-fighter-jet-pilots-involved-in-us-drone-skirmish-a80525) (Russia Awards Fighter Jet Pilots Involved in U.S. Drone Skirmish)    Russia Awards Fighter Jet Pilots Involved in U.S. Drone Skirmish  Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu awarded the pilots for “preventing” the MQ-9 Reaper from “violating” Russian-imposed international airspace restrictions... 2 Min read               (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/) (The Moscow Times - Independent News from Russia) (The Moscow Times)   (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/#) The Moscow Times (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/page/moscow-times) About us  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/page/privacy-policy) Privacy Policy  Privacy Manager     (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/#)  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/podcasts) Podcasts  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/videos) Videos  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/galleries) Galleries  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/newsletters) Newsletters  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/search) Archive    (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/#) Follow us (https://www.facebook.com/MoscowTimes/)   (https://twitter.com/moscowtimes)   (https://www.instagram.com/themoscowtimes/)   (https://t.me/+fmbCxJOTTPMyZjQy)   (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/page/rss)   (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRNPdAfK5Mp8ORtjUt3Q8UA)      (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/#) Media Partners (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/partner/bne-intellinews) (bne IntelliNews) bne IntelliNews   (https://investigatebel.org/en) (Belarusian Investigative Center) Belarusian Investigative Center       (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/#)      © The Moscow Times, all rights reserved.