Black Sea Drone Attacks Target Three Russian “Shadow Fleet” Oil Tankers
Three oil tankers involved in transporting Russian oil were attacked by drones in the Black Sea near the northern coast of Turkey on Thursday, according to shipping agency Tribeca. No casualties were reported.
The tanker James II, sailing under the flag of Palau, was struck in its engine room approximately 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of the Turkeli area and about 47 miles from the Bosporus Strait, UATV English reports. The vessel was reportedly traveling in ballast, without cargo, at the time of the attack. All 20 crew members aboard were unharmed.
Additional Tankers Targeted in Same Area
Two additional tankers — Altura and Velora, both operating under the flag of Sierra Leone — were also targeted in the same general area while conducting a ship-to-ship transfer operation. Turkish coast guard vessels were dispatched to the scene following the incidents.
“All crew members aboard the three vessels are reported safe,” the report said. Neither Russia nor Ukraine has claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Previous Attacks on Russian “Shadow Fleet” Vessels
The incident follows previous attacks involving vessels associated with Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” — ships used to transport Russian oil while circumventing Western sanctions. On March 26, the tanker Altura, which is under sanctions from the European Union, United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Ukraine, was attacked in the Black Sea about 14 miles from the Bosporus while reportedly carrying around one million barrels of Russian Urals crude oil from Novorossiysk.
The tanker Velora had also reportedly been targeted by maritime drones in an earlier incident.
Original Article: Drones Strike Three Russian “Shadow Fleet” Oil Tankers in Black Sea Near Turkey — Uatv