NATO will send more maritime patrol aircraft, radar systems and drones to the Black Sea, the military alliance said on Tuesday, after a series of deadly drone attacks on shipping in the region apparently linked to Russia's war in Ukraine, Reuters reported.

Source: Reuters

Bulgarian National Radio, citing the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA), also reported the deployment, saying NATO members will send additional maritime patrol aircraft, radar systems, drones, intelligence personnel and explosive-forensics teams to the region, and that a US P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft has been patrolling over Bulgaria's Black Sea coast from Varna since October 18.

Source: Bulgarian National Radio / BTA

The announcement came after NATO's main decision-making body, the North Atlantic Council, discussed Black Sea security at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels, Reuters said. NATO military spokesperson Colonel Martin O'Donnell said the added resources are intended to improve monitoring and help identify potential threats.

Dozens of sailors dead or missing

Last week, seven sailors were reported missing after drones struck two chemical tankers near Romania's Black Sea coast, setting them ablaze, Reuters reported. At least five other cargo vessels were hit near the coasts of Romania and neighbouring NATO member Bulgaria over the previous 10 days, with at least 23 sailors reported missing or dead, Reuters said.

NATO has not attributed the recent attacks to any country. Military analysts cited by Reuters have said Russia almost certainly carried out the attacks, but Moscow has not acknowledged responsibility. Bulgaria has requested fighter jets and air-defence systems from NATO and has raised stronger coordination with Romania and Turkey on Black Sea security, BNR reported.