Drone attacks on Black Sea ships intensify near NATO shores

Summary

The Guardian reports six attacks on ships in the Black Sea by suspected Russian drones in 10 days, describing a dramatic escalation in the maritime conflict. It recounts that on 6 October the Turkish-owned Alfa Watan was struck in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone while heading for the Romanian port of Sulina; a Bulgarian ferry found no sign of its 10 crew. This follows earlier reports of suspected drone strikes on two ships off Bulgaria, with crew missing.

Timeline

1. The Guardian

   18 Oct 2026, 05:00 UTCSource ↗

   The Guardian reports six suspected Russian drone attacks on ships in 10 days and recounts the 6 October strike on the Alfa Watan, whose 10 crew were not found by a Bulgarian ferry that arrived at the scene.