Russian Attack Sinks Israeli-Affiliated Ship in Black Sea

A container ship, the CONTSHIP JET, sailing under a Liberian flag and managed by a Greek company, sank in the Black Sea on Thursday after being struck by three explosive-laden unmanned vessels near Bulgaria's coast. The vessel had departed from Haifa, Israel, on October 24, bound for Constanta, Romania, a major Black Sea commercial port. The attack occurred Wednesday afternoon, approximately 21 nautical miles southeast of the Bulgarian coastal town of Shabla. Bulgarian Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov confirmed that the three unmanned vessels hit the ship within Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone. The ship, carrying 421 containers, sustained severe damage and began to list before its crew abandoned it. Bulgarian maritime authorities confirmed its sinking on Thursday.

All 18 crew members, comprising 14 Filipino and 4 Ukrainian nationals, were safely rescued and taken to Varna, Bulgaria, for medical checks, with no reported injuries. The ship's cargo included potentially hazardous materials such as lithium-ion batteries, flammable liquids, gases, acids, and industrial chemicals. Bulgarian naval teams are monitoring the area for environmental contamination, though initial tests have not detected any pollution.

Oren Caspi, Chairman of the ZIM Workers' Committee, stated, "In a reality of boycotts and security threats, in a world of political instability, we must keep ZIM Israeli. Much remains hidden regarding this unusual attack, and we are still learning the details." ZIM, the Israeli shipping company, confirmed the sinking and is investigating the circumstances.

This incident is part of a series of attacks on commercial vessels off the coasts of Bulgaria and Romania over the past month. While authorities lack definitive proof, it is widely believed to be part of Russia's efforts to disrupt Ukraine's Black Sea export routes. Bulgarian authorities report at least six commercial ships have been attacked in the past month, with previous incidents resulting in fatalities or missing crew members. Bulgarian Prime Minister Roman Radev acknowledged the logic points towards Russian involvement but stressed the lack of concrete evidence. The attacks near NATO members Bulgaria and Romania have raised concerns about potential escalation.