Tanker carrying Russian oil hit by drone in Black Sea near Turkey A marine drone struck a crude oil tanker departing from Russia, causing an explosion in the Black Sea near Istanbul’s Bosphorus Strait on Thursday, according to Turkey’s transportation minister. The incident, which occurred in the early hours, is part of a series of attacks targeting Western-sanctioned vessels linked to Russian ports. The vessel, named Altura, was about 18 nautical miles from the Bosphorus, a critical shipping route connecting the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. All 27 crew members aboard were reported safe, and the coastguard was dispatched to the scene. The attack, which took place just outside Turkish territorial waters, is believed to have aimed at disabling the ship’s engine room. The Altura, a Sierra Leone-flagged vessel, was carrying approximately 1 million barrels of Russian crude oil and had departed from Russia’s Novorossiysk port. The ship is sanctioned by the European Union and Britain. The Black Sea, shared by Russia and Ukraine, has been a focal point of conflict since the war began over four years ago. Turkey’s defense ministry emphasized its ongoing monitoring of drone-related risks in the region, citing the extensive use of drones in the Russia-Ukraine war. Officials warned of potential dangers, including drones losing control or drifting toward Turkish shores. Turkish naval vessels are patrolling the area to ensure navigational safety and prevent harm to ships or civilians. The incident follows a pattern of attacks on vessels in the Black Sea, including a surge in shipping insurance rates last year after Ukrainian drones struck Russian-bound tankers. Moscow threatened retaliation, while Turkey urged calm amid the escalating tensions.#sierra_leone #black_sea #turkey_transportation_minister #altura #novorossiysk
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
