Amid deadly drone attacks in the Black Sea: Bulgaria elects president

Bulgaria votes for president amid deadly drone attacks in the Black Sea that have claimed the lives of about 24 sailors. The leading candidates are acting president Iliana Iotova (41% in polls) and former interim prime minister Andrey Gyurov (28%). Iotova calls for a diplomatic solution; Gyurov supports cooperation with NATO and backing Ukraine.

Bulgarian citizens are voting today (Sunday) in the country's presidential elections, amid an unusual security escalation in the Black Sea. A series of deadly drone attacks against commercial vessels off the Bulgarian coast have reportedly led to the deaths of about 24 crew members from various countries. The two leading candidates are acting president Iliana Iotova (61) and former interim prime minister Andrey Gyurov (50). Iotova, backed by former president Rumen Radev, calls for ending the fighting through a diplomatic solution. Gyurov, supported by reformist and pro-Western parties, takes a firm stance of supporting Ukraine and NATO. A poll by Alpha Research gives Iotova 41% compared to 28% for Gyurov. If no candidate secures more than 50%, a second round will be held on November 1. A victory for Iotova would make her the first woman elected president of Bulgaria.