No drone debris found at site of sunken ship in Black Sea

No drone debris that could help identify the source of an attack on two merchant ships in the Black Sea has been found, Bulgarian Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said at a briefing at the Chaika Naval Base in Varna, BNR correspondent Daniela Stoynova reported.

• Bulgaria seeks assistance to inspect sunken ship with underwater drone

Stoyanov cautioned against speculation about who was behind the attack without evidence, noting that both Russia and Ukraine had denied involvement. He said the vessel Able had been badly damaged by fire and its engine room was flooded, but it remained afloat.

• Drones hit two ships 80 nautical miles off the Bulgarian coast

The minister also denied having met Kyrylo Budanov, chief of staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. “As far as I know, only the Prime Minister has had such a meeting,” he said.

Two merchant ships were struck by drones in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea on 6 October. One of them, ALFA WATAN, sank, leaving its 12 crew members missing. An inspection confirmed that the vessel was carrying wheat.

Editor: Miglena Ivanova