Two military personnel from the 24th Air Base were lowered onto the attacked cargo ship Able in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea. They found no drone wreckage, the military said at a briefing. The ship is carrying grain, and there is no spill around it.
Senior Sergeant Ivan Katsarov, a senior paratrooper-rescuer, told the briefing: "We were dropped in to check for drone remains, to collect and photograph the parts. We found none." The inspection lasted more than 30 minutes and was fully recorded.
Lt Col Plamen Donchev, deputy commander of the 24th Base, said the main task was for the two servicemen to examine parts on board. The ship is scorched, including the rooms inside.
Velislav Yarukov, a specialist in the base's search and rescue unit, said the fire did very severe damage and no traces were left on the ship. He said the crew left Able using the lifeboats and rescue gear that were on board.
On the night of 6 October, sea and air drones attacked two cargo ships. The one sailing under the Togo flag sank. Able was hit, a fire broke out on board and the crew was evacuated.
The sailors from the sunken ship have not been found. On Wednesday, Rumen Nikolov, director of rescue operations at the Maritime Administration executive agency, said the search and rescue had ended.
The Consultative Council on National Security met the day after the attack. Its members called for an immediate check on who was behind the strikes on the two ships.
The Defence Ministry said the navy frigate Verni sets off today for the attack area. It is the frigate's second trip there.
Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said he has not met Kyrylo Budanov, head of Zelensky's office. "As far as I know, such a meeting has only been held with the prime minister," Stoyanov told BNT.