The attacks are suspected Russian UAV operations targeting ships in NATO waters, including a separate vessel sunk off the coast of Romania yesterday. A second ship hit today, the Palau-flagged Able, caught fire while sailing from Romania to Turkey, forcing all 18 crew members to be rescued by the Bulgarian ferry Dioscuria. Radev has convened an emergency meeting with state institutions and will issue a statement this morning to address the escalation.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
Story
Suspected Russian Drones Hit 3 NATO Ships in 24 Hours
War15 days ago
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev confirmed that the crew of the Togo-flagged Alfa Watan remains missing after a drone strike sank the vessel east of the Bulgarian coast. The ship was traveling from Turkey toward Galați, Romania, when it suffered critical structural damage and sank during a series of overnight attacks in the Black Sea. At least two people have died across three recent strikes, according to Euronews, marking the first reported drone attacks on commercial shipping within Bulgaria’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Looking for more context or analysis?
Tilt chat provides reliable, tailored insights, alerts, and automations.