Bulgarian Prime Minister Roumen Radev held discussions with Russian Ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova on October 13, following drone attacks on merchant vessels within Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea. These incidents have heightened concerns regarding maritime security and the broader regional conflict.
Radev noted that Bulgaria has not yet identified the origin of the drones conclusively. However, he suggested that the attacks seem to benefit Russia more than Ukraine. In response, Mitrofanova stated that she lacked information from Russia’s Defence Ministry about the incidents and proposed that a third party might be responsible.
The Prime Minister condemned the attacks on merchant ships as unacceptable and cautioned that they could escalate the conflict further. He stressed that Bulgaria would work with its European Union and NATO allies to investigate the incidents thoroughly and establish the facts.
The attacks have increased risks for commercial shipping, leading to higher insurance costs and prompting some transport operators to decline cargo shipments to Bulgarian ports. As a result, oil supplies to the Burgas refinery have become more expensive and less secure.
To address these challenges, Bulgaria plans to engage in discussions with Romania and Türkiye to develop joint proposals aimed at enhancing maritime traffic protection in the Black Sea.
Bulgarian President Iliana Yotova also condemned the attacks, describing them as a significant threat to freedom of navigation and supply-chain security. She called for a prompt investigation and diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions, alongside implementing recommendations from the country’s October 7 Consultative Council on National Security meeting.