Drones hit two ships off Bulgaria; 11 Turkish sailors among 18 rescued

The Togo-flagged ALFA WATAN sank; its crew is missing.

The Turkiye Times Editorial DeskOctober 06, 2026, 03:24 PMUpdated: October 06, 2026, 07:09 PM

Drones hit two ships off Bulgaria; 11 Turkish sailors among 18 rescued

Two merchant ships were struck by drones about 70 nautical miles east of Byala in Bulgaria’s Black Sea economic zone. All 18 crew of the Palau-flagged ABLE, including 11 Turkish sailors, were rescued, while the Togo-flagged ALFA WATAN sank and its crew remains missing. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called attacks on civilian shipping unacceptable.

The sunken ALFA WATAN is owned by Mersin-based Baraka Shipping and the ABLE by Istanbul-based Ocean Eagle, according to reports. Of the two seriously injured sailors, an Indian crew member suffered burns to 45% of his body and the Turkish captain a head injury. A Turkish sailor from the ABLE told Bulgarian media he believed Russia was behind the attack because the ship carried Ukrainian cargo; the origin of the attack has not been officially established.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (archive)