US EditionBlasts hit sanctioned tankers off Turkey's coast, rescues underway
Two sanctioned Russian tankers, Kairos and Virat, suffered explosions likely caused by mines or unmanned vehicles, with all 45 crew members safely rescued, Turkish officials said.
- On Friday, two heavily sanctioned tankers, Kairos and Virat, were damaged in near-simultaneous explosions in the Black Sea, prompting Turkey's Maritime Affairs Directorate to launch rescue operations.
- Turkish officials said an external impact likely caused the Kairos blaze, citing mines, rockets or drones, and noted both vessels are used by Russia's shadow fleet, according to authorities.
- Kairos, a 274-metre Suezmax tanker, exploded about 28 nautical miles off Kocaeli province, Turkey, and its 25 crew were evacuated after a fire while sailing empty toward Novorossiysk, Russia.
- Authorities said shipping remained open while both tankers sustained critical damage, removing them from service and dealing a blow to Russian oil transport through the Bosphorus Strait.
- The incidents echo earlier mystery explosions and ongoing mine risks, as Ukraine's security service claimed underwater drones struck two tankers, while floating mines remain a persistent hazard.
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Both vessels are part of a Russian shadow fleet, which, according to the OpenSanctions database, is being used to circumvent sanctions against Moscow.
Russian shadow fleet tanker explodes in Black Sea after Ukraine drone strike
Two Russian sea tankers exploded into fireballs after they were hit by a coordinated Ukraine drone attack in the Black Sea. The coordinated attacks are believed to have been carried out by the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) and Ukraine’s navy on Friday (28 November), according to an official. A streak of orange flames and black, billowing smoke can be seen coming from the ship after the strike. Türkiye's rescue units rescued all 20 staff of th…
Virat tanker among two Russian ‘shadow fleet’ vessels set ablaze off Turkey’s Black Sea coast
Rescue teams were dispatched to the scene to provide assistance. All 20 crew members aboard the Virat were safe, although heavy smoke was reported in the engine room, the maritime authority said.
Ukraine claimed to have attacked two oil tankers in the Black Sea, claiming to have targeted with maritime drones ships of the "Russian phantom fleet" used by Moscow to escape Western sanctions.A source within the Ukrainian security services (SBU) said that Kairo and Virat tankers had been targeted by "Sea Baby" drones during a joint operation conducted by the SBU and the Ukrainian Navy as reported by BFMTV. According to this source, the ships w…
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