Bulgaria / 2026-08-26-bg-1
/ date found, not date of flight
At about 01:30 on 26 August the sea washed an unmanned aircraft about 2 m long and 1.5 m wide onto Kabakum beach in Varna; the border police cordoned off the area. A team from Naval Base Varna examined the aircraft, found no explosive material and took it to the base, the defence ministry said. It was the last of four finds that night on the Bulgarian coast, alongside Kamchia, Pasha Dere and Pomorie. Defence minister Dimitar Stoyanov said the drones found were mainly Russian Gerbera decoys and Orlan reconnaissance drones, unarmed, carried in by currents; he did not say which object was which, and the operator has not been established.
unresolved
The case was looked at and not settled, or the findings are disputed or have been rejected.
Minister obrony Bułgarii Dimityr Stojanow / 2026-08-26 / origin of the equipment
Speaking about the series of finds on 25-26 August, the defence minister said the drones found were mainly Russian Gerbera decoys and Orlan reconnaissance drones, alongside Ukrainian parts and unidentifiable wreckage, and that none carried weapons. He did not say which object was which. That is an assessment of the origin of equipment carried in by currents, not a finding about who flew it or who tasked the flight.
No casualties reported.
Ministry of Defence of Bulgaria / 2026-08-26 / primary source
supports: the record, that it happened, the date, the location
Dnes.dir.bg / 2026-08-26 / secondary source
supports: the record, the date, the location
Boulevard Bulgaria (quoting defence minister Dimitar Stoyanov) / 2026-08-26 / secondary source
supports: the record, the attribution
The Sofia Globe / 2026-08-26 / secondary source
supports: the record