Varna, BulgariaDrones
Bodies of five sailors found during inspections of Wine Trader brought to Varna for repairs
The bodies were found during inspections of the tanker, brought to Varna for repairs, Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) reported. The ship was struck by a drone off Sulina on 15 October, when seven crew members went missing.
The bodies of five sailors have been found during inspections of the tanker Wine Trader, which was brought to Varna for repairs, Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) reported. The report was carried by Mediapool, Dir.bg, Fakti and other outlets. This is a developing story and further information may be added.
The strike off Sulina
On 15 October 2026, Wine Trader caught fire after a drone strike off Sulina. The Romanian Naval Authority said at the time that five sailors had been rescued and seven were missing.
The exact location of the strike is disputed. According to the Romanian Naval Authority, as reported by AP, the tanker was about 13 miles off the coast, outside the 12-mile limit of territorial waters. According to Reuters, it was about a mile outside Romanian waters. A NATO source told Reuters the drones were Russian, but there has been no official attribution.
What has not been reported
The identities and nationalities of the dead, the time and cause of their deaths, and the exact moment of the discovery have not been reported. Nor has it been reported whether the five are among the seven sailors who went missing after the strike.
Corrections
Clarification: the verification level was changed from “Confirmed” to “Probable”: the discovery of the bodies was reported by BNR, with no official statement so far.
Correction: the original text said the date, place and cause of the strike on Wine Trader had not been independently confirmed. The drone strike off Sulina on 15 October is confirmed. We also removed information about the attack on CONTSHIP JET, which does not relate to this case, and added sources.
Sources
1 primary or official3 secondary reports
Primary / Official
Министерство на националната отбрана на Румъния · mapn.ro
Informație de presăPrimary sourceOther
Secondary reporting
Mediapool · mediapool.bg
Телата на петима моряци бяха намерени на ударения кораб "Wine Trader"Verified mediaDir.bg · dnes.dir.bg
Откриха телата на петима моряци на закарания за ремонт във Варна кораб Wine TraderVerified mediaFakti.bg · fakti.bg
Откриха телата на петима моряци на кораба „Wine Trader“Other
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