European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday condemned attacks on civilian shipping in the Black Sea as “unacceptable” after two commercial vessels were struck in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone. She said the situation in the region was becoming increasingly concerning, with civilian crews being placed at risk and lives already lost at sea.

The two merchant ships were attacked at around 3 a.m. local time, about 70 nautical miles east of the Bulgarian coastal town of Byala, according to Bulgarian authorities. Prime Minister Rumen Radev said the vessels were targeted by air and sea drones. One ship, sailing under the Togo flag, sank, while the second vessel caught fire after being damaged.

The crew of the second vessel, comprising 18 people, was evacuated and rescued. Two crew members were injured and taken for medical treatment, while the remaining 16 were reported to be unharmed. Bulgarian authorities said the crew included 11 Turkish nationals and seven Indian nationals. The vessel was reportedly carrying wheat and travelling south through the Black Sea.

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The crew of the sunken vessel remained unaccounted for, prompting a search and rescue operation in the area. Bulgarian naval, air force, border police and maritime authorities were involved in the response, while officials also monitored the sea for possible environmental pollution. The circumstances surrounding the attack and the party responsible were not immediately established.

Von der Leyen expressed solidarity with Bulgaria and other European Union member states on the bloc’s eastern flank, stressing the need to protect civilian maritime traffic. Her remarks came a day after another commercial vessel carrying Ukrainian grain was reportedly struck and sunk off the Romanian coast, adding to concerns over the safety of shipping routes in the Black Sea.

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