Bulgarian minister refers to Russia-Ukraine war as hybrid and says he is unsure whose drones struck vessels

Bulgarian Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov has said it is not yet possible to say whether the drones that struck two merchant vessels were Ukrainian or Russian.

Source: Stoyanov on bTV, as reported by European Pravda, citing BGNES

Details: Stoyanov stated that this was not an accident, but a targeted attack. He also noted that Bulgaria may have become part of what he called the "hybrid war between Ukraine and Russia".

Stoyanov explained that the drone debris must be found or one of the parties needs to claim responsibility. Since this has not happened, the Bulgarians cannot confirm whether the drones were Ukrainian or Russian, but they believe the attack was carried out using sea drones.

Stoyanov said that whichever side the drones came from, Bulgaria has clearly become part of the "hybrid war" between Ukraine and Russia. He added that this is part of the war being waged next to Bulgaria and there is nothing surprising about it.

Background:

• On 6 October, drones attacked two merchant vessels in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea.
• Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev reported that one of the vessels had sunk and the crew members are being considered missing.
• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in the evening that the Ukrainian Navy had contacted its Bulgarian counterparts regarding the attack on two civilian vessels in Bulgarian waters, and that the attack was carried out by Russia.

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