WW3 fears explode as Russia attacks and sinks ships inside NATO territory

A suspected Russian drone attack hit two ships off the coast of Bulgaria in the Black Sea, sinking one of the vessels. Bulgaria’s prime minister, Rumen Radev, said the Ukrainian-owned Chelsea 3 was sailing under the Maltese flag when it was hit by three drones some 18 nautical miles (20 miles) off the Bulgarian coast at around 1.30am (11.30pm BST) on Tuesday.

Its crew – ​seven Ukrainians and eight Azerbaijanis – were rescued and safely transported to the port of Varna after it was struck by three drones. Five crew ​members received medical assistance, but no one was seriously injured.

A second ship, the AZOV CONCORD, flying the flag of St Kitts and Nevis, was attacked about 17 nautical miles (19 miles) from the village of Krapets in north-eastern Bulgaria and sank. One sailor was rescued.

Mr Radev described the attacks as “absolutely unacceptable” and said that, although there was no “conclusive evidence” of Moscow’s involvement, he would summon Russian ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova for a meeting on Tuesday.

Mr Radev said: “Another attack on merchant ships in the immediate vicinity of Bulgarian territorial waters is absolutely unacceptable. Our permanent representative to NATO and our permanent representative to the European Union have been notified. I am scheduled to speak with NATO secretary general Mark Rutte.

“We do not have solid and clear evidence to bring charges against any of the parties, but logic, as I have already stated, indicates that the result is in favour of the Russian Federation. Therefore, today I will summon ambassador Mitrofanova for a conversation.”

Bulgaria has informed its representatives to NATO and the EU that it will seek international support to investigate the drone attacks and establish their country of origin, Mr Radev said. Sofia is also requesting assistance to strengthen air and maritime surveillance and improve its response capabilities.

Russia launched a massive overnight air assault on Ukraine, raising concerns about a potential threat to Polish territory and fuelling fears of a wider conflict. In response, Poland’s Government Centre for Security (RCB) issued an alert on X in the early hours of Tuesday, warning residents in the Lublin and Subcarpathian voivodeships.

The RCB said: “ATTENTION! Russian air attack on Ukrainian territory. The situation is being monitored. In the airspace of the Republic of Poland, Polish aviation is operating. Expect further communications. The RCB Alert has been sent to recipients in the Subcarpathian and Lublin voivodeships.”

Such attacks by Moscow could be intended to test NATO’s willingness to invoke Article 5, which states that an armed attack against a NATO ally is legally considered an attack against all 32 members of the alliance.

Russian strikes have been edging closer and closer to NATO territory, with Bulgaria being hit with a wave of incidents in its territorial waters.

On October 6, the crew of a merchant vessel went missing after two ships were struck in the Black Sea off the coast of NATO member Bulgaria – an incident Mr Radev described as a “gross violation of international law.”

One of the ships, the ALFA WATAN, sank, while the search for its 12 reported crew members was called off without success. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said a joint investigation with Bulgaria’s ⁠navy showed that Russia was behind the attack.

“The Ukrainian Defence Forces were conducting no operations in this part of the sea,” he said. Although Bulgaria does not border Russia or Ukraine, it occupies a strategic position on the Black Sea, home to major ports of both countries.