Stoyanov: Black Sea is now a conflict zone, escalation keeps growing
Bulgaria's defence minister says the drones are likely Russian and rules out naval convoys beyond territorial waters. The sunken vessel was the HS Dignity.
Symbolic image · Photo: MC3 Scott Barnes / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain (cropped and resized)
Bulgarian Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said on Tuesday that the Black Sea has become a conflict zone requiring additional measures. The ship that sank off Krapets went down very quickly, he said, pointing to a powerful attack by surface drones. Stoyanov held talks with his Turkish and Romanian counterparts, and the three agreed to improve situational awareness and share information promptly. A meeting of the three defence ministers could take place by the end of October.
The origin of the drones has not been officially established, but Stoyanov said it made no sense for Ukrainians to strike their own ships, so he expects them to prove Russian. Navy convoys outside territorial waters are not possible, and the armed forces can respond to a specific threat only within them, he said, adding that NATO's Article 4 need not be triggered. Escalation in the Black Sea "keeps growing," the minister said.
The Transport Ministry said the sunken vessel was the HS Dignity, flying the flag of Guinea-Bissau. It was hit at about 1:20 a.m. 17 nautical miles east of Shabla while sailing empty from Mostaganem, Algeria, to Braila, Romania; five crew members survived. The Maltese-flagged Chelsea 3, struck east of Byala, was also carrying no cargo, and all 15 sailors aboard were rescued.