Bulgarian FM to summon Russian ambassador if evidence confirms drone attack

If there is evidence that the drone attack against two commercial vessels in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea was carried out by Russia, Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova will summon Russian Ambassador to Bulgaria Eleonora Mitrofanova. “If we have clear evidence that this is the case, of course that will happen,” she told journalists.

Asked whether there had been contact with Ukraine, Velislava Petrova said that until the main perpetrator is identified, communication is taking place at the level of security services and defence ministries.

“The colleagues working on the case are in constant contact with their Ukrainian counterparts, but what has been lacking is confirmation on our part that the attack was Russian, as had been claimed. They are maintaining contact with all sides that may have relevant information, including Romania and Ukraine,” Velislava Petrova explained.

On the day of the incident, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the full set of information had been clarified with the Bulgarian side. “Our naval forces contacted their counterparts in Bulgaria. It was established that this was a Russian combined attack involving maritime and aerial drones,” he said at the time, BTA recalls.

Edited by Diana Tsankova