Ship sinks, crew missing after Black Sea drone attack
On 6 October 2026 a Togo‑flagged Turkish cargo vessel, the Alfa Watan, was struck by drones roughly 70 km (112 km) off the coast of Byala, Bulgaria. The ship sank and all on board were declared missing by Bulgarian authorities.
Within hours the second vessel, the grain carrier Able, carrying a cargo of grain, sustained damage and was also hit. 18 crew members were rescued by Bulgarian mariners; two were badly injured by fire aboard the ship and have been transported to medical facilities. The crew comprised 11 Turkish and seven Indian nationals.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev condemned the strikes as “a flagrant violation of maritime law” and said that the attacks came as Russia intensifies its military operations in the Black Sea. He did not name a perpetrator, but warned that if the war in Ukraine continues to expand, it could raise the risk of a global conflict.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated on X that the situation in the Black Sea is increasingly concerning, calling the attacks on civilian shipping “unacceptable” and expressing concern for commercial ships and their crews.
At 03:00 local time, air and sea drones were reported to have struck the vessels. The Alfa Watan was flying the flag of Togo and was heading for Sulina, Romania. Its exact cargo and number of passengers remain unknown.
Search operations are underway, with a Bulgarian vessel that had been in the area reporting overturned boats, rafts and life jackets. The incident highlights the growing danger to maritime traffic in the region amid the ongoing conflict.
Two injured crew members from one of the ships have been sent for treatment.
