Bulgaria summons Ukrainian envoy after drone explodes near Trans-Balkan gas pipeline

Drone explosion near Kardam

On Saturday morning, a drone entered Bulgarian airspace from Romania and exploded in a sunflower field near the village of Kardam, approximately 100 metres from the Romanian border and about one kilometre from a compressor station on the Trans-Balkan gas pipeline, which connects Turkey with Ukraine. No injuries or property damage were reported. Prime Minister Rumen Radew, who convened an emergency session of the Security Council, said the drone carried a "considerable" amount of explosives. Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said the force of the explosion and the black smoke column indicated the drone was laden with explosives. The crash site lies roughly 40 kilometres from the Black Sea.

Bulgarian assessment and diplomatic response

After an initial examination of the debris, the Bulgarian Defence Ministry identified the drone as a "Maya" decoy type, a model it said is "frequently used" by the Ukrainian armed forces. The ministry stated there was no reason to believe the incident was deliberate. Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova announced she would meet Ukrainian Ambassador Olesya Ilashchuk on Monday, August 10. Ilashchuk is currently in Kyiv. President Iliana Iotova, making her first public reaction to the incident in Varna, said she was awaiting reports from the security services to determine the drone's type, purpose, and whether it reached the area intentionally or deviated from its course.

Ukraine denies intentional targeting

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi said Ukraine's defence forces had not deliberately directed any aerial vehicle toward Bulgaria and that Kyiv was in close contact with Bulgarian authorities to clarify the circumstances. He did not officially confirm the drone was Ukrainian. Tykhyi attributed such incidents to Russia's war against Ukraine, which he said has lasted five years and is being deliberately prolonged by Moscow.

We can say with certainty that the Ukrainian defence forces did not deliberately direct any means toward Bulgaria.

He added that ending the war as soon as possible is of crucial importance for regional security and that Ukraine counts on joint efforts with partners to compel Moscow toward peace.

Regional reactions and warnings

Romania's Defence Ministry said its radar systems had not detected any aerial vehicle crossing Romanian airspace toward Bulgaria before the explosion. The Romanian Foreign Ministry said it was in contact with Bulgarian counterparts and NATO allies and was ready to offer assistance. Lithuania's Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas warned on Friday that Russia could use intercepted Ukrainian drones for "false flag" operations against critical infrastructure in the Baltic states.

We are talking here about a possible false flag operation.

Kaunas did not provide details on specific targets or possible timelines.

Political context in Bulgaria

Radew, often described as a pro-Russian politician, became prime minister in May 2026 after serving as president. In June, Bulgaria halted military aid to Ukraine, with Radew citing the country's preference for diplomatic efforts to end the war. Iotova called for Bulgaria to participate in strong diplomatic pressure to find a peaceful solution in Ukraine, warning that similar incidents could occur daily. She also proposed organising a meeting of Black Sea states, without Russia's participation, to protect maritime routes, and acknowledged gaps in Bulgaria's anti-drone defence capabilities.

I am disappointed by the way this incident is being used for primitive political purposes. For me, the most important thing is the safety of Bulgarian citizens.

Iotova said the Bulgarian state must do everything possible to support companies producing anti-drone systems and that the defence system needs reforms.