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

7 Bulgarian sailors freed from Somali pirates, after Indian military operation rescues the Ruen

All 17 crew members of the bulk carrier are safe and in good health

The Ruen
Photo: bntnews.bg

All 17 sailors of different nationalities on board the hijacked Bulgarian bulk carrier Ruen are in good health, Deputy Prime Minister Mariya Gabriel told an emergency briefing at the Foreign Office. The crew, seven of whom are Bulgarian, were transferred to the Indian warship that captured the Ruen from its hijackers. The ship was abducted by Somali pirates on 14 December 2023. 
Minister Gabriel thanked the Indian authorities for their help throughout the release process. She also thanked Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, with whom the Foreign Office has been in constant contact. 

The Foreign Ministry also said that it was actively working for the release of the kidnapped Bulgarians from the crew of the Galaxy Leader, which was hijacked by the Yemeni Houthis in the Red Sea on 19 November 2023.






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

Sofia Zoo participates in snow leopard conservation program

The Sofia Zoo has a new resident – ​​an 11-year-old male snow leopard, BNT has reported. He comes from Nordens Ark Zoo, located in Bohuslän, Sweden and is named Araatan. Some time ago, a female leopard arrived from the Helsinki Zoo,..

published on 10/15/25 2:29 PM

The largest trade union in Bulgaria calls against early elections

Early elections will not help anyone. If elections were held now, the caretaker government would have no power to draft the most difficult budget in the past 30 years. This was what the president of the Confederation of Independent..

published on 10/15/25 1:08 PM

Bulgaria's toll system begins fining overloaded trucks

Starting October 15, Bulgaria's toll system has begun weighing heavy vehicles over 3.5 tons while they are in motion. The weighing process is fully automated. "Currently, 10 out of nearly 100 planned devices have been certified. The sensors..

published on 10/15/25 10:27 AM