Eleven missing after drones strike two cargo ships off Bulgaria
publishers 75articles 98first reported 5 Oct, 13:30 UTCdeveloping since 5 Oct · 25 editions
Eleven sailors were missing Tuesday after drone attacks struck two cargo ships near Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, sinking one and prompting Sofia to summon Russia’s ambassador.
Bulgarian officials identified the sunken vessel as the Guinea-Bissau-flagged HS Dignity. It went down about 17 nautical miles east of the village of Krapets while traveling toward the Romanian port of Braila. Five crew members were rescued, while search-and-rescue operations continued for 11 others.
The Maltese-flagged Chelsea 3, owned by a Ukrainian company, was hit by three aerial drones about 18 nautical miles east of Byala. All 15 crew members — seven Ukrainians and eight Azerbaijanis — were rescued, and five received medical assistance.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev called the attacks “absolutely unacceptable.” He said there was no clear evidence establishing responsibility, but added that the outcome benefited Russia. Russian Ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova said she had no information from Russia’s Defense Ministry and suggested the attacks could have been a third-party provocation. Moscow had not publicly commented.
Ukraine accused Russia of carrying out the strikes, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the attacks as an escalation of Russia’s war in Ukraine. After speaking with Radev, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said the alliance would monitor the security environment and adjust its posture as needed. Bulgaria requested NATO and EU support to strengthen maritime and airspace surveillance.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 4 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 192 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 75
- Source articles
- 98
- Given to the writer
- 8, 4 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 192 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
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