On Tuesday, two merchant ships were hit by aerial drones in the Black Sea off the coast of Bulgaria. According to Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev, the attacks resulted in one of the vessels sinking. Emergency crews successfully evacuated all 15 crew members from the Maltese-flagged ship, the Chelsea 3. Five of these crew members, consisting of seven Ukrainian and eight Azerbaijani citizens, required medical treatment for minor injuries. The crew reported that the vessel was struck by three separate aerial drones, which damaged the ship's deck and hull.

There is a notable difference in the reporting regarding the political response to the incident. The BBC reports that the Bulgarian Prime Minister has summoned the Russian ambassador, explicitly stating he suspects Russia is responsible for the drone strikes. Conversely, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) focuses on the logistical and humanitarian aspects of the event, noting that the Bulgarian government is seeking support from NATO in response to the security threat in the Black Sea. While both outlets confirm the sinking and the rescue operation, they emphasize different aspects of the aftermath: the BBC highlights the diplomatic confrontation with Russia, while SCMP emphasizes the request for collective security assistance.