Bulgaria investigates drone attack on Malta-flagged ship after debris recovered
Bulgarian authorities have recovered debris aboard the Malta-flagged merchant vessel Chelsea 3, which was struck by three drones in the Black Sea on October 13, as prosecutors investigate the attack.
Transport Minister Georgi Peev said on October 20 that the recovered fragments were being analyzed to help establish the circumstances of the incident.
“As far as I am informed, certain debris has already been found and is currently undergoing analysis. Once the results are ready, the public will, of course, be duly informed,” Peev said, according to Bulgarian news outlet Novinite.
The Chelsea 3 was attacked approximately 33 kilometers off Bulgaria's coast. The vessel was registered in Odesa, Ukraine, and sailed under the Maltese flag.
The ship suffered three serious breaches in its hull, compromising its structural integrity. Bulgarian authorities subsequently towed it to the port of Burgas in an operation complicated by unfavorable weather conditions.
The operation cost approximately €200,000, according to Peev. Bulgaria may seek reimbursement through insurance or compensation from the vessel's owner.
The Sofia Military District Prosecutor's Office has opened pretrial proceedings over a suspected crime in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea.
The origin of the drones and the identity of those responsible remain unknown. Initial inspections found no munitions aboard the vessel and detected no signs of radiation.
Bulgarian officials have said they may seek technical assistance from international partners to determine the circumstances of the attack.
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