Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Mysterious Russian ship sails near Black Sea coast

Photo: Facebook

The phantom ship VIVA 962 has changed at least 10 names and many owners before it surprisingly appeared near Cape Emine on November 1. The crew consists of a captain and a mechanic with Ukrainian passports from Kharkov, reports the "24 Chasa" portal.

The small tanker, intended for the transport of edible oils, literally surprised the Bulgarian services, because no one in Burgas is waiting for it for repairs, which is the reason given by the crew for coming to Bulgaria.

The 84-meter VIVA 962 (IMO: 8878764) anchored at Cape Emine and the 65-year-old captain himself made radio contact with the authorities. The ship was built in 1993. Its registration under the Panamanian flag expired in 2024.

It remains unclear how the crew of two managed to get the vessel out of Russian waters during military operations.

Edited by Ivo Ivanov
English publication: R. Petkova



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Ex-PM Boyko Borisov: Delyan Peevski is unfairly sanctioned under the Magnitsky Act

GERB leader Boyko Borisov has told the media that he personally participated in talks with American representatives on the lifting of the Magnitsky sanctions against Bulgarian citizens. He said that he also spoke on the subject with David Cameron while..

published on 11/5/25 9:04 PM

Weather forecast: The clouds and rain continue, no rain in the Southwest

On Thursday minimum temperatures will range between 6 and 11° C., for Sofia around 8° C. During the day the weather will continue cloudy and rainy. The rain will be more significant in Eastern Bulgaria, and in the afternoon – in Central Bulgaria...

published on 11/5/25 6:35 PM
Deputy PM Tomislav Donchev

European Commission withholds payment under recovery and resilience plan over failure to implement anti-corruption reforms

The European Commission has decided to withhold EUR 215 million from the second payment under Bulgaria’s recovery and resilience plan, the EC told the Bulgarian National Radio. The country is to receive EUR 439 million. EU may cut money for..

published on 11/5/25 4:39 PM