Black Sea Drone Attack (Credit: OpenAI)
International News: Late Friday night, crew members aboard the Russian oil tanker ‘Virat’ sent a distress call on an open radio frequency. They said, “This is Virat. Need help! Drone attack! Mayday!” Officials confirmed that the tanker was targeted by an unmanned sea drone while sailing near the Turkish coastline. The message quickly spread across maritime security channels. This incident has raised serious concerns about rising drone activity in the region. The attack occurred around 35 miles off the coast. Experts say the call indicates the crew sensed immediate danger and acted quickly to seek help.
Turkey’s Ministry of Transport released an official statement on Saturday. They said the tanker suffered “minor damage above the waterline on the starboard side” but remained under control. The crew is reported to be safe and there is no fuel leakage risk. The ministry added that another drone passed near the vessel on Saturday morning, hinting at multiple attempts. Turkish rescue teams tracked the situation through marine surveillance systems. Officials claimed no further damage occurred. They have increased coastal monitoring to avoid more such incidents.
A senior official from Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) claimed responsibility for the operation. He said the attack was jointly carried out by the Ukrainian Navy and SBU against Russia’s shadow fleet tankers. In his words, “The footage shows the collision impact and both tankers sustained heavy damage, leading to operational shutdown.” He added that this will “seriously disrupt Russian oil transportation.” Ukraine shared a video showing explosive movement towards two vessels before a blast. Analysts believe this is part of ongoing hybrid warfare targeting logistics.
Shadow Fleet refers to unregulated Russian tankers that allegedly bypass international sanctions to transport fuel. After the 2022 conflict escalation in Ukraine, several such ships were blacklisted. Virat is one of them, as confirmed by LSEG maritime data. Experts say these tankers operate with tracking systems switched off. They often sail through restricted maritime zones to avoid detection. Ukraine claims these vessels support war financing. Targeting them, as per analysts, is a strategic effort to limit Russia’s energy trade. Officials say more attacks cannot be ruled out.
Yes. Turkish authorities also reported a separate tanker named ‘Cairos’ caught fire after an external impact. The vessel was sailing to Russia’s Novorossiysk port when the blast occurred 28 nautical miles from the coast. Firefighting teams rescued 25 crew members safely from the 274-meter-long vessel. Cooling procedures are ongoing to prevent explosion. The cause is not officially linked to Ukraine, but similarities indicate possible coordinated action. Marine security experts are monitoring the area closely. Satellite imagery analysis is underway to confirm incident details.
Initial reports suggest Virat suffered only superficial impact, but Ukrainian sources claim deeper structural harm. The tanker is currently docked for inspection at a secure location. Maritime engineers are assessing hull conditions. Turkish officials have not confirmed whether the vessel will continue operations. Ukraine claims that both ships may remain out of service for long. Global oil market analysts are monitoring trends. If more vessels are attacked, supply routes could face pressure. This may impact regional fuel transport pricing.
Security has been increased across the Black Sea shipping routes. International agencies are tracking drone movements. Russia has not officially responded to the latest strike. NATO sources are observing developments but have not made a public statement. Experts warn that continued drone warfare on sea routes could heighten tensions. Maritime authorities have advised ships to maintain alert status. With both geopolitics and trade interests involved, this incident may further deepen conflict in the region. A detailed investigation is now underway.
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