Bulgarian government says prime minister's summons of Russian envoy failed

Following the sinking of two ships in the Black Sea within Bulgaria’s territorial waters, Prime Minister Rumen Radev summoned Russian ambassador Eleonova Mitrofanova for a nearly hour-long meeting. The government’s press release notes that Radev emphasized the lack of definitive evidence about the drones used, rejecting the notion that Ukraine would target its own vessels, and condemned the attacks as benefiting Russia.

Mitrofanova responded that she had no information from the Russian Defence Ministry and did not rule out a third-party provocation. Radev stressed that the assaults are wholly unacceptable, will be investigated jointly with EU and NATO allies, and increase costs while endangering oil supply to Burgas’s refinery. He also announced plans to discuss maritime security proposals with Romania and Turkey, and the foreign minister Velislava Petrova was present at the talks. Critics argue the summons should have been handled by the foreign ministry according to one outlet.