On October 5, 2026, the Russian Federation, according to experts, declared a "hunt" on vessels owned by Turkish owners. This is confirmed by a series of attacks on several cargo ships in the Black Sea, particularly off the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria.
Attacks on Turkish Vessels
As a result of the attacks that took place on October 6, two Turkish ships, ALFA WATAN and ABLE, sustained serious damage. The ship ALFA WATAN sank, resulting in the deaths of two crew members, while 11 others were rescued. The ship ABLE, which was also attacked, caught fire, and 18 sailors were evacuated, some of whom were injured.
Context of the Attacks
These events mark the first known instance of drones being used to attack ships in the exclusive economic zone of Bulgaria. The attack occurred approximately 80 miles off the Bulgarian coast. Bulgarian and Romanian services organized a large-scale rescue operation, but it has not yet been determined who is behind these attacks.
Government Response
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev convened an urgent meeting with representatives of security forces and intelligence services to discuss the situation. Maritime expert Andrei Klimenko noted that all three ships that were attacked belong to Turkish companies and expressed doubt that Russian planners were unaware of their targets.