Explosions Rock Turkish Coast as Two Sanctioned Russian Oil Tankers Suffer Mysterious Blasts
Two heavily sanctioned tankers carrying Russian oil suffered near-simultaneous blasts off Türkiye’s Black Sea coast on November 28, 2025, according to Bloomberg. The incidents, which occurred in the same area, have left the cause of the explosions unknown as maritime authorities launched rescue operations.
The first vessel, the Kairos, caught fire and began taking on water, according to a local port agent and confirmed by Türkiye’s Directorate General for Maritime Affairs. Shortly after, the Virat was also damaged and seen billowing smoke nearby. The Kairos is a 274-meter Suezmax tanker that had just returned from Paradip, India, where it delivered a cargo of Russia’s flagship Urals crude, and was en route back to the port of Novorossiysk to reload when it was struck.
The Virat, a 250-meter tanker, also Gambian-flagged and blacklisted by the US and the EU, had been idling in the western Black Sea for most of 2025 after being designated by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control on January 10. Turkish authorities stated that the Kairos was empty and 28 miles off the Turkish coast when it “caught fire due to an external impact.” All 25 crew members on board were reported in good condition.
Russian Shadow Fleet Oil Tankers: Evading Sanctions, Fueling Conflict
Russia relies on a “shadow fleet” of aging oil tankers – many with obscure ownership and registered under flag-of-convenience jurisdictions – to evade G7 and EU sanctions and keep its oil exports flowing. The Kairos and Virat are part of this clandestine network used to deliver oil from Russian ports, evading the G7 or EU sanctions.
The attacks on Russian ports and sea mine threat
At least one unnamed Russian oil tanker was recently damaged in recent Ukrainian attacks on Russia’s Black Sea ports in Novorossiysk and Tuapse, and the Russian-controlled oil terminal in occupied Feodosiia. The attacks severely damaged the Feodosiia facility and disrupted oil exports from Novorossiysk for several days.
The Spanish navy has earlier warned of floating mines in the Black Sea since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Despite the twin incidents, the Bosphorus Strait – a key artery for Russian oil exports – remains open to traffic.
Ukraine’s Response: Targeting Russian Oil Infrastructure
Ukraine not only holds its ground but also carries out air and maritime drone attacks against Russian military, fuel, and defense-industrial targets. Among the priority targets are Russia’s oil refineries and oil export facilities, aiming to disrupt Russian troop fuel logistics and cut Russia’s oil export profits. Recently, Ukraine repeatedly attacked Russia’s oil terminal in Novorossiysk on the eastern coast of the Black Sea.
It is unclear whether Ukraine is involved in the tanker incidents reported by Bloomberg. The ship managers, as listed in the Equasis international database, did not respond to requests for comment. Vessel tracking data cited by Bloomberg confirmed that neither ship carried cargo at the time of the explosions.
Original Article: Two Russian shadow fleet tankers hit by mysterious blasts off Türkiye’s coast — both incidents in same area (MAP) — Euromaidan Press