Rumen Radev: Evidence expected to reveal who carried out Black Sea attacks

A French patrol aircraft detected the drones at least half an hour before the attack on the vessel Contship Jet, which sank in the Black Sea, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said, commenting on the attack on the ship approximately 21 nautical miles southeast of Shabla. According to him, the aircraft indicated the direction in which the drones were heading.

Premier Radev also said that all the necessary technical examinations are underway, and that evidence establishing responsibility for the attacks is expected to become available. He assured that if the origin of the drones is established, the Foreign Minister will immediately summon the ambassador concerned to hand them a note of protest.

• Rear Admiral Mihaylov: Drones’ origin in Black Sea ship attack unknown
• Container ship struck by three drones 21 nautical miles southeast of Shabla

Asked whether the ship had come from the east, Rumen Radev replied: "Of course. Ships travel close to the coastline, so naturally it would have come from the east. However, we still do not know with certainty where it departed from."

"The only way to ensure that the attacks would stop is through a ceasefire and peace negotiations", Rumen Radev stated. Meanwhile, he has raised the issue of additional allied support with the NATO Secretary General.

Responding to criticism in the Romanian media of his remarks about the attacks, Radev said: "Bulgaria did not make any categorical accusations against any country because we have not had clear evidence so far. Romania said Russia was the aggressor and the source of these drones, but that did not protect it. The following day, drones sank a ship in its own territorial waters."

Edited by Diana Tsankova

Translated by Kostadin Atanasov