In brief
A San Marino‑flagged ship was struck by a drone off the Romanian coast in October 2026 and later repaired in Varna. Human remains were uncovered during debris clearing, leading to DNA identification tests and a joint Bulgarian‑Romanian investigation under the Varna District Prosecution Office. The incident is part of a broader wave of drone-related accidents in Bulgarian waters.
A San Marino‑flagged vessel that suffered drone damage off the coast of Romania in October 2026 was brought to a Varna shipyard for repairs. During the clearance of debris from the ship, badly damaged human remains were discovered, triggering an investigation by the Appellate Prosecution Office in Varna and order for DNA testing to identify the deceased. The case is also being examined by Romanian authorities.
According to the Varna District Prosecution Office, the ship sailed under a foreign flag and carried no Bulgarian nationals among its crew. It was brought to a Varna shipyard in early November for repairs after the drone strike. While dismantling wreckage, the remains were uncovered, prompting immediate forensic analysis.
DNA tests have been ordered to establish the identities of the deceased. The Prosecutor’s Office is coordinating with Romanian investigators, who are conducting parallel inquiries into the incident. Both investigations fall under the supervision of the Varna District Prosecution Office, reflecting a collaborative judicial response to the maritime disaster.
The drone that struck the vessel was reported to have struck the ship‑own surface off the Romanian coast, according to the BTA source. No details are provided about the drone’s make or origin in that report, but the incident follows a series of drone-related events affecting Bulgarian maritime infrastructure.
Broader Context of Drone Incidents in Bulgarian Waters
On November 6, 2026, a Bulgarian Navy team destroyed a Russian Gerber‑2 drone that had been found near Shabla on the northern Black Sea coast, according to a statement by the Defence Ministry. The device was believed to have fallen into the sea and later washed ashore. The incident is part of more than 100 reports of drones or drone parts appearing in Bulgarian waters or on beaches since the beginning of 2026, amid the backdrop of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
The Defence Ministry noted that the drone issued no explosive material and was thoroughly neutralized following strict safety procedures. While earlier media reports had labeled the drone as a Shahel of Iranian manufacture used by Russia, official identification identified it as a Gerber‑2.
These recurring events demonstrate an increasing frequency of aerial unmanned vehicles operating near Bulgaria’s maritime borders. The incidents raise questions about maritime safety, the protection of foreign-flagged vessels, and the enforcement of international regulations regarding unmanned air systems in coastal waters. Bulgarian authorities are urged to intensify monitoring and security protocols as part of broader measures to safeguard the country’s maritime trade routes.
