Russian Shadow Fleet Tankers Catch Fire in Black Sea
Two oil tankers, part of Russia’s shadow fleet, caught fire while moving along the Turkish coast in the Black Sea. The incidents occurred without warning, leaving authorities scrambling to respond.
The first tanker, Kairos, suddenly erupted into flames 28 miles off the Turkish coast. A 25-member crew was on board, but miraculously, no one was injured. Rescuers were dispatched to the vessel, and port agents speculate that Kairos may have hit a mine while heading empty towards Novorossiysk for another load of Urals oil.
Virat Tanker Also Damaged in Western Black Sea
The second tanker, Virat, suffered damage in the western part of the Black Sea. This ship had been idle for most of the year due to US and EU sanctions. Virat was not carrying any cargo at the time of the incident, but its route took it through the same waters as Kairos.
Both vessels are included in the list of sanctioned carriers of Russian oil. The Turkish Maritime Administration has confirmed that the fire on Kaios started 28 miles off the coast, and the vessel remains at risk of sinking.
Possible Causes of Fire
OSINT sources consider the possibility of an attack by maritime drones as one of the versions for the fires. However, there is no official confirmation of this yet. The Turkish Maritime Administration continues to monitor and coordinate rescue efforts in the area.
As a reminder, a damaged ship was recently spotted being towed in Novorossiysk after Ukrainian attacks.
Original Article: Two Oil Tankers of Russian Shadow Fleet “Mysteriously” Caught Fire in the Black Sea — Militarnyi