Bulgaria has not received information from Ukraine about Russian warplanes dropping bombs on shipping routes in the Black Sea, the Bulgarian Defence Ministry told Euractiv.
“The situation in the Black Sea, as well as in the airspace of the Republic of Bulgaria above it, is under constant surveillance. The Navy and Air Force of the Republic of Bulgaria are on 24/7 readiness, with on-call forces and means, to react in cases of violation of the rules of flights and navigation in the areas,” the ministry said in its response to Euractiv.
On 1 November, Ukraine announced that Russian warplanes had dropped explosives three times in one night over the likely paths of civilian vessels in the Black Sea.
At the same time, Kyiv announced it was trying to build a new sea route without Russia’s approval through Romanian and Bulgarian territorial waters to revive its vital maritime exports.
Russia said it would consider any ship a potential military target after ending a deal for a Black Sea safe route. The deal allowed some food exports to continue despite the war.
“The occupiers continue to terrorise civilian shipping lanes in the Black Sea with tactical aviation, dropping explosives on civilian shipping routes,” Ukraine’s southern military command announced on 1 November.
“For the last 24 hours, three such incidents have been registered. However, the navigation corridor continues to function under the supervision of the defence forces,” the statement said.
The Russian Defence Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Ukraine uses routes through Romanian and Bulgarian territorial waters to continue exporting grain from its ports on the Danube River.
(Antonia Kotseva, Krassen Nikolov | Euractiv.bg)
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