Russia is accused of sinking cargo ship in NATO waters as crew vanishes and Zelenskyy warns of 'massive strike'

From the Newshound archive · first published 6 October 2026 · last updated 8 October 2026.

Russia has been blamed by Ukraine for a coordinated air-and-sea drone attack that sank the Togo-flagged Alfa Watan in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone. The crew remains unaccounted for after a Bulgarian rescue vessel found only an overturned lifeboat, life rafts and floating jackets. A second ship, the Palau-flagged grain carrier Able, was set ablaze in the same attack; all 18 crew were evacuated and two sailors were flown to hospital in Varna with severe injuries. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev called it a "blatant violation of international law," while NATO was put on high alert. Zelenskyy warned Russia is separately preparing a broader "massive strike."

Bulgarian PM Radev warned the attack could drag the world toward global conflict if the war is not ended in time.

The dual precision strike — combining aerial and surface drones — reportedly marks an escalation toward a larger invasion posture on Russia's part.

A separate Russian drone attack on a Turkish-owned grain ship near Romania killed the vessel's captain and left one other person unaccounted for, with 11 crew rescued.