Tanker Loaded With Russian Oil Hit In Underwater Attack In Black Sea: Turkey A Turkish-operated oil tanker was attacked in the Black Sea early Thursday, according to Turkey’s transport minister, Abdulkadir Uraloglu. The incident occurred after midnight when the vessel, which had recently loaded crude oil from Russia, experienced an explosion in its engine room. Officials stated the attack targeted the engine room specifically, with Uraloglu suggesting it was carried out by an unmanned surface vehicle rather than a drone. The minister confirmed the ship, flagged under Sierra Leone, reported the explosion to emergency services and that Turkish authorities had dispatched units to the scene for monitoring. The attack took place less than 30 kilometers from the Bosphorus Strait, though Uraloglu did not confirm whether it occurred within Turkish territorial waters. He described the explosion as an “externally caused” event aimed at disabling the ship. The minister emphasized that the attack was not attributed to a drone but instead to a surface vessel operating at water level. This incident adds to a series of security challenges Turkey has faced in the Black Sea region, particularly linked to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Turkey, which borders Ukraine and annexed Crimea, has maintained diplomatic ties with both Kyiv and Moscow since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan previously warned against the Black Sea becoming a “zone of confrontation” between the warring nations. The recent attack underscores the ongoing tensions in the region, with Turkey positioned as a mediator and a key player in the conflict’s geopolitical dynamics. The incident highlights the vulnerability of maritime routes in the Black Sea, a critical area for energy transportation and military operations.#turkey #russia #ukraine #abdukadir_uraloglu #black_sea
