Ukraine–Russia

Black Sea: Togo-flagged cargo ship Alfa Watan sinks after a sea- and air-drone attack about 70 nautical miles east of Byala, Bulgaria; crew unaccounted for

ATTACK
Location
About 70 nautical miles east of Byala, Bulgaria's Black Sea exclusive economic zone (estimated ±25 km)
Importance
Notable

The Togo-flagged merchant ship Alfa Watan sank after sea and aerial drones attacked it and the Palau-flagged Able at around 03:00 local time on 6 October 2026 in Bulgaria's Black Sea exclusive economic zone, about 70 nautical miles east of Byala, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said, according to BTA. The Alfa Watan was sailing north and its cargo was not known. Its crew remained unaccounted for; Bulgaria's Maritime Administration later said no crew members had been found and the search and rescue operation was called off, BNT reported. Chief of Defence Admiral Emil Eftimov said the crew had only three minutes to react. Radev said the drones were clearly either Russian or Ukrainian but their origin was not clear. The Able is covered in a separate event. The pin is an estimate based on the rescue area 70 nautical miles east of Byala.

Verification: unverified

Evidence: Two Merchant Ships Attacked by Sea and Aerial Drones in Bulgaria's Exclusive Economic Zone, Prime Minister Says, Drone Attack on Two Merchant Ships in Bulgaria's Exclusive Economic Zone Prompts President to Convene Security Council, Military Personnel Inspected Ship Able, Which Had Been Carrying Wheat; No Drone Debris Found

Bulgarian government statements via BTA and BNT; drone origin not established; crew size not officially published.