Bulgaria condemns Black Sea drone attacks as Russia's war in Ukraine spills over into Eastern Europe

Bulgaria has seen the second spate of drone attacks on merchant ships off its coast in the past week. Russia has been accused of repeatedly targeting civilian cargo ships in the area.

Two ships were struck by drones off the coast of Bulgaria on Tuesday, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said, the second such incident in the Black Sea in the past week.

He wrote in a social media post that one ship, a Ukrainian-owned cargo vessel, was "hit by three aerial drones," shortly before another ship was struck.

"We lack solid, clear evidence to level accusations against any specific party; however... logic suggests the outcome works to the advantage of the Russian Federation," Radev added, also confirming that no one had been killed.

The origin of last week's attack is also unknown, but Moscow is also suspected in that incident.

Radev said that the escalation of violence in the Black Sea was "unacceptable" and that he would be summoning the Russian ambassador to discuss it.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also condemned the attacks, calling them "another front of escalation of the Russian war in Ukraine".

"We stand with Bulgaria and thank its rescuers for their swift response. Those responsible should be held accountable," she said in a statement.

At least 45 merchant vessels have been struck by drones in the Black Sea in the past 12 months, as Russia's war has increasingly taken a toll on Eastern Europe.

Radev said he had requested official assistance from the EU and NATO to determine the exact source of the recent attacks.

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