The facts
Stoyanov placed the attack about 21 nautical miles southeast of Shabla. The ship was sailing from Haifa, Israel, to Constanța, Romania. [2]
AP reported that naval and border-police rescue vessels took the crew aboard. The 14 Filipino and four Ukrainian sailors were being brought to Varna for medical checks. [1]
The Sofia Globe reported direct contact with a shipping company whose nearby vessel had observed the abandoned ship listing and losing containers. [3]
Bulgaria, Romania and Türkiye condemned attacks on commercial shipping and called for their cessation during security talks in Sofia. [1][2]
The minister said the attack occurred shortly before 13:00 local time. [1]
Still unconfirmed
- Who operated the drones, the final condition of the ship and its cargo, and the crew’s final medical assessments remain unresolved.
Sources
References support the numbered facts above. Source checks: 29 Oct 2026, 00:15 UTC.
The ministerial and rescue accounts are attributed through three separately owned newsrooms. The Sofia Globe also contacted a shipping company directly. The checked evidence does not establish a Russian or other state perpetrator.
- Contship Jet attack and crew rescue
The Associated Press, via Chron · Reporting · 28 Oct 2026
- Minister’s account of the Contship Jet attack
Bulgarian National Radio · Reporting · 28 Oct 2026
This earlier report still described the rescue as underway; later AP and Sofia Globe reports confirm the rescue.
- Attack and rescue off Cape Kaliakra
The Sofia Globe · Reporting · 28 Oct 2026