Black Sea ships attacked Crews and causes uncertain

Oct 5–6

CCTV cites Russia's transport ministry saying a Liberian-flagged tanker caught fire after an unmanned-boat attack off Russia's Black Sea coast on October 6 and all crew were rescued. It then cites Bulgarian Prime Minister Radev saying two foreign-flagged merchant ships were attacked by drones in Bulgaria's Black Sea exclusive economic zone that day; one sank and its occupants were missing. Investigations into both incidents continue, and the origins of the unmanned boat and drones remain unconfirmed. These are separate incidents within one complete brief; CCTV does not assign responsibility.

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.