Two commercial vessels attacked in Black Sea, Ukraine blames Russia

Bulgarian authorities are investigating the origin of the sea and aerial drones that hit commercial vessels off Bulgaria's coast. Its president has convened a Security Council emergency meeting for Wednesday afternoon that focuses on risks and threats to the country's maritime security in the context of the Ukraine war.

This as Sweden steps up military presence in Poland to shield NATO's infrastructure in a bid to protect the aid hub supporting Ukraine.

Two merchant ships came under attack in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea after a coordinated drone strike early Tuesday, marking the first time the spillover from the Russia-Ukraine conflict directly struck the waters of a NATO member.

The Turkish-owned, Togo-flagged cargo ship "Alfa Watan" sustained critical structural damage and sank at the scene.

There's no immediate word on the crew's fate.

According to a Reuters report, authorities have decided not to resume the rescue operation for the "Alfa Watan" on Wednesday.

The other Palau-flagged bulk carrier "Able" that was carrying wheat and sailing south was set ablaze.

All of its 18 crew members were evacuated by a nearby Bulgarian ship. Two sailors who suffered severe injuries were the first to be airlifted to a hospital in port city Varna.

Commander of border police vessel says the rescue operation proceeded well and the sea was calm, "which allowed the two ships to come alongside each other and the people to be brought off."

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev calls the drone attacks "absolutely unacceptable."

He tells ministers in a meeting Tuesday that the incident is a flagrant violation of international law and maritime norms, saying it is seriously disrupting shipping in the Black Sea and driving up insurance costs even further.

Radev warns the the war is expanding geographically and increasing the risk of global conflict.

It is not immediately clear who carried out the attack in waters off Bulgaria's coastal town of Byala.

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy points the finger at Russia.

He says Ukraine's military didn't conduct any operations in the area of the sea where the vessels were struck, claiming the latest tragedy "is another part of Russia's effort to make the western Black Sea completely unfit for navigation."

Zelenskyy also mentions updated intel on Moscow's preparations for a massive strike on his country and declares Ukrainian services and Air Force are

ready to respond as much as their defences allow.

Meanwhile in Stockholm, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announces sending Patriot air defence systems and about 100 troops to bolster NATO's eastern flank in Rzeszow, Poland, the main logistics hub used to route aid to Ukraine.

The deployment is another element in Sweden's growing commitment to the security of northeastern Europe due to an increase of Russian hybrid activities targeting the continent.