Drone Strike Hits Russian Oil Tanker in Black Sea
An unidentified drone struck the oil tanker Altura in the Black Sea near Turkey’s Bosphorus Strait while it was transporting Russian crude. According to Bloomberg on March 26, the Suezmax-class tanker was carrying around one million barrels of Urals crude loaded from the Russian port of Novorossiysk when it was hit approximately 15 nautical miles from the Bosphorus.
The outlet reports that an explosion occurred near the vessel’s bridge, and the engine room began taking on water following the impact. The tanker, sailing under the flag of Sierra Leone, had a crew of 27 Turkish nationals on board. According to NTV, no casualties were reported.
Response Efforts Underway
Turkish authorities dispatched coast guard units, maritime safety teams, and an emergency response vessel to the area following a distress signal from the ship. The vessel was later surrounded by Turkish naval assets as response operations continued. Data cited by Ukrainian military intelligence indicates that Altura is part of Russia’s shadow fleet, used to transport oil to evade international sanctions.
According to this data, the tanker moved approximately six million barrels of Russian crude between early 2024 and mid-2025. Bloomberg also reports that the vessel is under sanctions imposed by the United Kingdom and the European Union, though not currently by the US.
Context and Previous Incidents
The incident follows a similar case in December 2025, when a drone strike hit the Russian tanker Valeriy Gorchakov at the port of Rostov-on-Don, setting the vessel ablaze and causing casualties among the crew. The circumstances of the strike and responsibility for the attack remain unclear. No official claims of responsibility have been made.
The Altura incident highlights concerns over Russia’s use of shadow fleets to circumvent international sanctions. As global tensions continue to rise, maritime security remains a pressing issue.
Original Article: Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker Hit By Drone Just Miles From Bosphorus Chokepoint — UNITED24 Media — United24Media