Vladimir Putin's so-called 'shadow fleet' has sustained a significant blow in the Black Sea after two of its oil tankers were struck in a daring Ukrainian naval drone attack.
The Attack Unfolds
The incident began around 6pm off the coast of Kefken in Turkey's northern Kocaeli province. The first vessel, the Gambian-flagged tanker Kairos, was reportedly empty and en route to the Russian port of Novorossiysk when it was hit. Thick black smoke was seen billowing from the bow of the vessel as flames took hold.
A second oil tanker, the Virat, also flying a Gambian flag, reported being hit approximately 35 nautical miles away. Footage verified by the BBC showed drones speeding through the waves before impacting the Russian vessels and bursting into flames.
Official Response and Rescue Efforts
Initially, Turkish authorities described the explosions as being caused by 'external causes'. Turkish Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu later clarified on NTV that 'an external cause means the vessel was hit by a mine, a rocket or a similar projectile, or by a drone, or by an unmanned underwater vehicle.'
Rescue teams and a cargo vessel were swiftly sent to the scene. Miraculously, all 25 crew members from the Kairos and the 20 crew members from the Virat were reported 'safe and sound'. The crew of the Kairos was evacuated, while rescue teams reached the Virat, where thick smoke was detected in the engine room.
Minister Uraloglu added, 'No pollution has been detected so far, but we are monitoring the fire's progress.'
Context and Wider Implications
Both tankers are part of Russia's 'shadow fleet', used to transport oil from Russian ports despite a Western embargo enforced after the invasion of Ukraine. As such, both vessels are currently under sanctions from the West.
The Black Sea has become a highly contested area since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion. Numerous naval mines, deployed by both Russia and Ukraine to protect their coastlines, have been found and destroyed. These mines have been known to drift, especially during storms, posing a danger to shipping.
In response to this threat, NATO members Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania, which all have coasts on the Black Sea, established a naval Mine Countermeasures Group in 2024.
