Maritime drones hit another container ship off Bulgaria while defence ministers hold Black Sea security talks in Sofia

Three maritime drones struck the Liberian-flagged container ship Contship Jet around 21 nautical miles southeast of Shabla, near Cape Kaliakra in northeastern Bulgaria, at just before 1pm local time on Wednesday. The crew evacuated the vessel and no casualties were immediately reported. The attack unfolded as defence ministers from Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey were gathered in Sofia for trilateral security talks on the Black Sea.

Bulgaria's Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov confirmed the strike; Russia has not claimed responsibility but suspicion increasingly points to Moscow.

A series of similar drone attacks this month in NATO members' exclusive economic zones have already left two people dead and at least 25 missing.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte warned earlier this month that the alliance had strengthened counter-drone capabilities along its eastern flank.