Yotova: Russia’s war on Ukraine has led to a significant deterioration of the security environment in the Black Sea region

Russia’s war in Ukraine has led to a significant deterioration of the security environment in the Black Sea region, Bulgarian President Iliana Yotova said on October 7 after a meeting of the Consultative Council on National Security.

The council meeting was held after October 6 drone attacks resulted in the sinking of a ship in Bulgaria’s Black Sea exclusive economic zone, with the loss of its crew, and severe damage to another ship, whose crew was rescued.

The Consultative Council on National Security discussed the current risks and threats to maritime security and critical infrastructure of Bulgaria in the context of the war in Ukraine and in view of the incidents that have occurred in recent days in the Black Sea.

During the meeting, an escalation of military actions in the conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine was noted, which threatens maritime security and freedom of navigation in the Black Sea region, Yotova said.

There is a trend of increasing attacks with sea and air drones against merchant ships, leading to damage and sinking of sea vessels and loss of human life, she said.

This has led to restrictions on the freedom of navigation, a sharp decline in ship traffic, increased insurance costs, economic losses and the risk of environmental pollution, Yotova said.

It was agreed that the use of an increasing number of increasingly high-tech and increasingly long-range unmanned systems has significantly increased the threats to the critical infrastructure of the Republic of Bulgaria.

“In view of the incidents and strategic sites of the Bulgarian defense industry, it was noted that our country faces serious challenges in ensuring the protection of critical infrastructure,” she said.

“It was noted that the current risky threats to maritime security and critical infrastructure are a direct consequence of the lack of possibility for a peaceful settlement of the military conflict in Ukraine through diplomacy.”

During the meeting, an agreement was reached to continue the implementation of the measures adopted by the Cabinet to counter the aforementioned threats, Yotova said.

The need to conduct an analysis of changes in the regulatory framework to support the implementation of these measures was identified, she said.

The members of the council agreed on proposals to the executive and legislative branches, Yotova said.

These proposals were adopted by a three-quarters majority, as required by law, with representatives of three political groups and three parliamentary groups opposed.

The council categorically condemns the strikes on merchant ships in Black Sea, as a gross violation of international maritime law and insists on an immediate investigation to identify the perpetrators of the strikes.

After the investigation is completed, the executive branch should inform the public about the results.

“The greatest guarantees for our security are an immediate ceasefire and the use of all political and diplomatic channels to achieve peace,” Yotova said.

“Bulgaria must actively participate in this process.”

The implementation of the measures taken by the executive branch to counter risks and threats must continue, she said of the measures agreed.

“Strengthening maritime awareness measures through the use of unmanned aerial systems for reconnaissance and surveillance. Accelerating the processes of modernisation of the armed forces with the acquisition of anti-drone systems with kinetic impact capabilities in close cooperation with Nato and the EU.”

The executive branch should analyse and propose to the National Assembly changes to the existing regulatory framework in order to support measures for the physical protection of strategic sites and guarantee the country’s maritime security.

A high level of readiness of the national maritime search and rescue system should be maintained.

“Regarding Nato – Bulgaria should activate its capacity as a full member of the EU and Nato in order to express a firm position and ensure the protection of security, economic and environmental interests, as well as the stability of the region.

“Through Nato’s increased vigilance activity Eastern Shield, there is an opportunity for us to request an increase in the contribution of the allies to the security of the Black Sea region.”

The possibilities should be activated for deploying additional means for air and maritime surveillance, strengthening the coastal and defence system, anti-drone systems in the context of Nato for an enhanced forward presence.

The proposals do not violate the Montreux agreements, Yotova said.

“Convening consultations under Article 4 at this stage is unproductive, since discussing such incidents was an approach that was adopted only to be considered within the framework of the North Atlantic Council and will not lead to new measures.”

Bulgaria should propose to the European Union that a framework mechanism for free and safe navigation in the Black Sea be developed as part of its strategic approach to the Black Sea region, she said.

The European Union defines maritime security as one of the main pillars of its Black Sea strategy and envisages the creation of a Black Sea security hub, but more specifics are needed in this case, which Bulgaria can offer.

If necessary, the civil protection mechanism due to environmental risk should be activated, she said of the meeting’s agreements.

Another step is activating the monitoring tools of the European Union Satellite Centre for indication of threats.

There should be financial compensation for possible losses incurred. Bulgaria should urgently undertake consultations with Romania and Turkey on common actions to stop attacks on merchant ships in the Black Sea and to ensure the safety of shipping.

Bulgaria should take an active role in negotiations, finding consensus between the countries bordering the Black Sea, Yotova said, saying that these were Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania, Georgia and Turkey.

There should be a moratorium on military actions in the Black Sea and for its transformation into a zone of shared security, she said.

The topic of the Black Sea, the risks, threats and security solutions should be presented at all European formats in which Bulgaria participates, and especially at the upcoming European Union summit on October 15-16 this year.

Finally,”with regard to the United Nations, a request for assistance to the mechanisms of the UN International Maritime Organization for technical and legal analysis of incidents in the Black Sea, as well as a resolution to ensure freedom and safety of navigation in the Black Sea.”

Ivailo Mirchev, co-leader of opposition Democratic Bulgaria, said after the meeting: “We did not support the joint declaration of the Consultative Council on National Security because two important proposals of ours were not accepted”.

“First – Bulgaria should immediately send a note about the gross violation of international maritime law and clear commitments should be made by Russia that there will be no more such attacks against merchant ships in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone,” Mirchev said

“Second – the Consultative Council on National Security should clearly reaffirm the Bulgarian position for a ceasefire and the start of real peace negotiations, which was supported by 51 countries, the entire EU and Bulgaria, within the framework of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. This was not accepted with the argument about ultimatums, which is an argument not of anyone, but of (Russian Foreign Minister Sergeyh) Lavrov himself.”

Mirchev said that the meeting agreed that there were clear indications of Russian interference in the sinking of one ship and the hitting of the other. “I don’t remember there being people at the table who doubted whether the drones were Russian,” he said.