Bulgaria picks a president as drone attacks hit ships off its Black Sea coast

L2Who’s affected

Bulgarian voters, and seafarers on the Black Sea. About two dozen are feared dead after a month of drone attacks on merchant ships, and a Greek container ship sank Wednesday after being hit by sea drones.

L3Why it’s quiet

Analysis · OVERLOOKED Small-EU-state elections and Black Sea shipping attacks get little coverage next to the main fronts in Ukraine and Iran.

L4Deeper impact

Bulgaria has asked its allies for help with maritime security. A win for Iotova would make her Bulgaria’s first elected woman president. Gyurov signed a security cooperation agreement with Kyiv while he was caretaker PM.

L5Full context

Iotova, 61, led the first round but didn’t pass 50%, and turnout was a record low of 23%. She became acting president in January after Rumen Radev resigned and won a parliamentary race. Analysis · political analysts cited by AP/Reuters Analysts saw his ticket as Kremlin-friendly. Radev, now prime minister, backs Iotova and said the strikes’ outcome “benefits the Russian Federation.” Gyurov, 50, has pro-Western reformist backing, including ex-PM Boiko Borisov. Both candidates condemned the attacks and want a diplomatic end to the war in Ukraine.

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