US EditionTurkey-Operated Tanker Carrying Russian Oil Hit by Marine Drone Near Bosphorus
The Altura tanker, carrying 140,000 tons of Russian crude, was hit by a sea drone causing damage but no crew injuries, amid efforts to disrupt sanctioned oil exports.
- On Thursday, March 26, 2026, an unmanned marine vessel struck the Turkish-operated oil tanker Altura near the Bosphorus Strait, damaging its engine room. Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu confirmed all 27 Turkish crew members were unharmed.
- The Altura had departed from Novorossiysk carrying roughly 1 million barrels of Russian crude oil and has been subject to European Union and United Kingdom sanctions since 2025 for its role in Russia's 'shadow fleet'.
- Uraloglu stated the attack was likely caused by an 'unmanned underwater vehicle' rather than a standard drone, targeting the engine room. Local reports place the incident approximately 15 nautical miles from the Bosphorus Strait.
- Following the radioed distress call, Turkish authorities dispatched coastguard vessels, including the Nene Hatun, to assist. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has previously warned against the Black Sea becoming an 'area of confrontation' between Russia and Ukraine.
- This incident follows a series of recent attacks on Western-sanctioned vessels heading to or from Russian ports. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently announced British military forces would be authorized to board shadow fleet tankers transiting United Kingdom waters.
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Protothema
NaftemporikiThe Turkish Foreign Ministry, through its spokesman Oncu Keçeli, is commenting on the incident, emphasizing both the seriousness of the attack and the condition of the crew.
In the Black Sea, 25 kilometres from the Strait of Bosphorus, an explosion took place on the Altura (Altura) tanker, which transported oil and followed from Russia, as reported by NTV with reference to the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure of Turkey, Abdulkadir Uraloglu.
The Toronto Star
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Moscow needs the tankers to dodge Western sanctions and sell the oil and petroleum products that largely finance its more than 4-year invasion of Ukraine.
Turkey condemns attack on Black Sea oil tanker that departed Russia
ISTANBUL, March 26 (Reuters) - A marine drone struck a crude oil tanker that had departed Russia, causing an explosion in the Black Sea near Istanbul's Bosphorus strait on Thursday, Turkey's transportation minister said.Turkey condemned the attack, which it said targeted a Turkish-operated vessel."The attack on the Sierra Leone-flagged, Turkish-operated tanker ALTURA carrying crude oil is of great concern," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oncu Kec…
According to the Turkish Minister of Transport, a freighter operated by a Turkish shipping company was attacked and the ship transported Russian oil.
A marine drone, the most likely Ukrainian, hit joi in the sun the high oil tanker loaded with Russian seals, causing an explosion across the Black Sea, about 30 kilometers from the entrance to Bossor. Article A Turkish oil carrier carrying Russian oil was hit by a drone in the Black Sea appeared for the first time in Romania TV.
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