Black Sea Drone Attacks Sink Cargo Ships and Displace Crews
Two cargo vessels operating in the Black Sea were struck by drone attacks early Tuesday morning, resulting in one sinking and heavy structural fires on another, according to regional authorities. The first vessel, the Togo-flagged Alpha Month, sank roughly 130 kilometers off the coast of Bulgaria within the country’s exclusive economic zone, nos.nl reported, citing Bulgarian President Iotova and Prime Minister Radev. A second ship, the Palau-flagged Able, caught fire during the same window of attacks around 03:00 or 04:00 local time, leaving rescue services scrambling to evacuate eighteen crew members to a hospital in Varna. Prime Minister Radev convened an emergency meeting with security ministries and transport officials to coordinate the government response as the source of the aerial or sea-surface drones remains unidentified.
Bulgarian authorities have not assigned responsibility for strikes
Discrepancies remain regarding the precise catalysts and responsible parties behind the escalating series of Black Sea shipping disasters. Bulgarian authorities have not yet assigned responsibility for the simultaneous strikes on the Alpha Month and the Able within their exclusive economic zone.
What countries' flags were the targeted ships sailing under?
What countries’ flags were the targeted ships sailing under?
The sunken cargo vessel Alpha Month sailed under the flag of Togo, while the burning ship Able flew the flag of Palau, nos.nl reported. Additionally, the grain carrier Royad Mammadov, which sank off the Romanian coast, operated under the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis, according to schuttevaer.nl.
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