Turkish-Operated Tanker Attacked in Black Sea
An image from video released December 2025 by Ukraine’s security service shows a Russian oil tanker that was struck by a Ukrainian sea drone in the Black Sea [Photo: Security Service of Ukraine]
The crude oil tanker Altura, owned by Turkish company Pergamon Shipping and en route from Russia, was struck by an armed unmanned maritime vehicle (UMV) on Thursday, 26 kilometres (16 miles) from the entrance to the Bosphorus Strait. No one has officially claimed responsibility for the attack.
International Law Violation
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Öncü Keçeli said Thursday evening that the attack within NATO member Türkiye’s Exclusive Economic Zone in the Black Sea was “in violation of international law,” adding, “To prevent the war from spreading to the Black Sea and escalating further, we are continuing our contacts with the relevant parties.” Neither Ukraine nor Russia has so far issued an official statement.
History of Attacks
Alexander Kotz, a reporter for the Russian state television network NTV, said, “This is not the first time Ukrainian drones have attacked civilian ships in the Black Sea. Throughout the conflict, Kyiv has systematically shifted its military operations to international shipping lanes; this poses a threat not only to Russia but also to NATO countries, including Türkiye.” The targeted tanker was added to the European Union’s (EU) sanctions list in October, to Switzerland’s and Ukraine’s in December, and finally to the United Kingdom’s in February.
UMVs Found Along Turkish Coast
Five UMV have been found along Türkiye’s Black Sea coast over the past one and a half years. Most recently, on March 21, an armed UMV was detected off the coast of Ordu, a city in the Eastern Black Sea region. According to a statement made Thursday by Rear Admiral Zeki Aktürk, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, this UMV is “of US origin and is believed to have drifted ashore due to a current after its engine malfunctioned.” It was “safely destroyed by teams from the Underwater Defense Command.” The UMV was reportedly carrying two tons of ammunition.
Escalation in Black Sea
The situation in the Black Sea escalated after the Trump administration presented a 28-point plan to Kiev on November 20, calling for a negotiated resolution to the conflict with Russia. On November 28, two tankers—the Kairos and the Virat—en route to Russia were attacked in waters under Türkiye’s jurisdiction off the coasts of the provinces of Kocaeli and Kastamonu. On December 10, the Comoros-flagged tanker Dashan was struck in the Black Sea by a Ukrainian-made unmanned maritime vehicle named Sea Baby.
These targeted tankers had been listed among vessels sanctioned after the war began in 2022. Following its invasion, Russia has used a “shadow fleet” of hundreds of tankers—many sailing under different flags—to evade Western sanctions, especially those targeting its oil exports.
Original Article: Black Sea turns into a battlefield: A Turkish-operated tanker carrying Russian oil was hit — Wsws