Black Sea ships attacked Claims and crews differ

Oct 5–6

CCTV first cites Russia's transport ministry reporting an October 6 evening drone attack on a Liberian-flagged tanker and the rescue of all twenty-three Indian crew. It says drones were launched from unmanned surface vessels and attributes Ukrainian responsibility to AFP. Separately, it cites Radev's account of two merchant ships attacked early October 6 in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone: one sank with its crew missing, the other caught fire and its crew were evacuated to Varna. Crew describe sea and aerial drones; the report says responsibility for the Bulgarian attacks is unclear and notes Ukraine's accusation against Russia. It closes with general recent reciprocal strikes. The two incidents and their differently attributed responsibility claims are preserved.

Two civilian merchant vessels are attacked overnight October 5–6 in Bulgaria's Black Sea waters, with one sunk and the other damaged. Tagesthemen and Tagesschau report the sunk vessel's crew missing and the other crew rescued, and say Bulgaria did not directly identify the attacker. CCTV's October 7 follow-up cites Radev's October 6 account of two foreign-flagged ships attacked in the exclusive economic zone, one sinking with occupants missing, and says drone origins remain unconfirmed. Zelenskyy's October 6 address denies Ukrainian operations there and claims Ukrainian–Bulgarian naval contacts established a combined Russian sea- and air-drone attack. He orders partner cooperation and urges a response. The differing responsibility and verification claims remain attributed; the sources do not independently settle responsibility or supply a reconciled casualty count.