UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned attacks on civilian shipping following drone strikes on two cargo vessels off Bulgaria’s coast…reports Asian Lite News Desk
UN chief Antonio Guterres has condemned attacks on civilian shipping, warning that the growing number of incidents in the Black Sea, the Gulf region and the Red Sea is threatening seafarers and disrupting the movement of essential goods. The United Nations has also warned that attacks on vessels carrying food, grain and other commodities could push up prices in international markets.
UN Secretary-General Guterres condemned the attacks, the latest of which occurred in the Black Sea on Tuesday, his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters during a briefing.
“It’s very worrisome because these attacks on ships carrying grain, food, and other products destined for the global market have multiplied and have expanded recently”, Dujarric said.
“Also, it has a terrible knock-on effect on the price of commodities worldwide”, he added.
The latest incidents involved two cargo ships reportedly attacked by drones off the Bulgarian coast. According to Bulgarian officials, one of the vessels sank, leaving 11 sailors missing, while five crew members were rescued from the ship.
The missing sailors were aboard the Guinea-Bissau-flagged cargo vessel HS Dignity, Bulgarian officials said.
The Maltese-flagged Chelsea 3 was also hit by drones, but all 15 members of its crew were rescued, according to the officials. The nationalities of the rescued crew members were reported as Ukrainian.
Dujarric expressed gratitude to seafarers who continue to operate despite the dangers posed by attacks on commercial vessels.
“We all owe a debt of gratitude for all of these seafarers who continue to operate in extremely dangerous circumstances, just so that all the goods that we rely on for our daily lives keep moving”, he said.
He also highlighted the risks faced by maritime workers in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, where shipping has been affected by developments linked to the Iran conflict.
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The incidents have raised concerns about the safety of commercial shipping routes that are vital for international trade, particularly the transportation of energy supplies, food and other essential commodities.
At least 35 Indian crew members faced attacks on their ships last week, according to the report. The incidents have prompted renewed calls for stronger protection for commercial vessels and the people working aboard them.
India and Liberia, which co-chair an international group focused on maritime safety, have condemned attacks on commercial shipping and seafarers in the Gulf region and the Black Sea.
India, which has the largest number of seafarers, and Liberia, which has the highest number of ships registered under its flag, lead the Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers (GoFoS4).
In a joint statement, the two countries “strongly condemn the string of unacceptable attacks that commercial ships and seafarers have been subjected to in the Gulf and its vicinity, [and] the Black Sea, over the past few days”.
The statement underlined growing international concern over threats to maritime workers and commercial shipping operations across multiple regions.
The Black Sea has emerged as a particular area of concern following the latest drone attacks off Bulgaria’s coast. The incidents also come amid wider security risks affecting vessels operating near conflict zones and strategic maritime routes.
Last week, an Indian seafarer was injured when the cargo ship MV Royad Mammadov, sailing under the flag of St Kitts and Nevis, was struck near the Romanian coast in the Black Sea.
Bulgarian officials did not directly accuse Russia of carrying out the attacks near the country’s coast. However, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev called Russia’s envoy for a meeting to discuss the incidents.
During the meeting, Radev said “the results of these strikes favour Russia’s interests”, according to Bulgaria’s press office.
The latest developments have intensified concerns over the safety of civilian vessels operating in and around areas affected by conflict. The UN’s warning also highlights the wider economic consequences of maritime attacks, as disruptions to shipping can affect the supply and cost of goods in international markets.
