Sanctioned Tanker Kairos Spotted Off Bulgarian Coast After Drone Attack
Bulgaria’s maritime authorities, border police, and navy are carrying out a rescue operation of the sanctioned tanker Kairos, which entered the country’s territorial waters on Friday. The operation has been put on hold due to bad weather, according to a statement from the transport ministry.
The Kairos was hit in the Black Sea last week by a Ukrainian drone in Turkey’s Exclusive Economic Zone and its crew rescued after it was caught by fire. The tanker was one of two sanctioned vessels that were targeted by Ukrainian naval drones as they headed to a Russian port to load up with oil destined for foreign markets, as Kyiv tries to pile pressure on Russia’s vast oil industry.
Crew Aboard Kairos Requests Evacuation
The vessel was spotted by the maritime control services earlier on Friday but did not respond to calls for contact. Following contacts with passing ships and the Maritime Coordination Centre in Ankara, it was confirmed that there were 10 people on board, who later sent a request for evacuation, the ministry said.
A border police specialized team is ready to sail to the ship, and two air-tractors are prepared to join the operation as soon as the weather stabilizes. The ship has anchored about one nautical mile east of the resort village of Ahtopol and stopped its movement due to strong winds.
Regional Tensions Escalate
On Tuesday, another Russian-flagged tanker loaded with sunflower oil reported a drone attack off the Turkish coast, but its 13 crew members were unharmed. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Wednesday said that the “very scary” attacks on Russia-linked tankers in the Black Sea threatened the safety of all in the region and showed the reach of the war in Ukraine was expanding.
The incident highlights the escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, with both sides engaging in a series of provocative actions. The situation remains fluid, and further developments are expected in the coming days.
Original Article: Bulgaria rescuing sanctioned tanker that was hit by Ukrainian drone | The Straits Times — Straitstimes