Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy blames Russia for attack on Bulgarian vessels in Black Sea as investigation launched

According to NBC News, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said sea and aerial drones attacked the ships around 3 a.m., about 80 miles off Bulgaria's coast[1], and that the Togo-flagged Alfa Watan suffered critical structural damage and sank at the scene.[1]Ukrainska Pravda reports that Radev said the crew members are being considered missing.[2] UA.News, citing media reports, says all 18 crew members[3] of the second vessel, the Palau-flagged ABLE, were rescued, though several sustained injuries.[3]Zelenskyy said in his evening address, quoted by Ukrainska Pravda, that "it has been established that this was a combined Russian attack using maritime and aerial drones.[2]" He added that the strike was part of "Russia's effort to make the western Black Sea completely unfit for navigation."[2]UA.News reports, citing Reuters, that Bulgarian officials are investigating the incident, and Radev called the attack a gross violation of international law.[3]NBC News reports that President Iliana Yotova has convened an emergency meeting of Bulgaria's Security Council for Wednesday afternoon[1], while NATO declined to comment and referred all inquiries about the drone attack to Bulgarian authorities.[1]According to UA.News, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called such attacks unacceptable[3].Fox News reports that Zelenskyy also warned that Moscow was preparing a broader "massive strike."[4]