Black Sea drone attack: Radev sees signs pointing to one country, but no proof

Prime Minister Rumen Radev commented on Friday in Plovdiv on the possible origin of the drones that struck two merchant ships in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea on the night of Oct. 6. He said there were logical premises pointing to one country as the source of the drones but no evidence, state news agency BTA reported. He did not name the country.

Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said it was “entirely possible” the drone was Ukrainian or Russian, public broadcaster BNT reported. Troops searching the burned-out freighter Able on Friday found no drone debris. The navy said the vessel has a hole in its stern but is stable about 40 nautical miles off the coast with no oil leak; the frigate Verni was sent back to the area.

Radev also confirmed his meeting with Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Ukrainian president's office, saying it took place at the guest's request. Ukraine's peace efforts deserve support and diplomacy should be given full scope, he said. In the attack, a Togo-flagged ship sank; none of its crew has been found so far.