West Asia conflict: Tanker carrying Russian crude oil struck by drone in Black Sea, says Turkey
West Asia conflict: A tanker carrying Russian crude oil was struck by a drone in the Black Sea by an unidentified Turkey's transport minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said.
The oil tanker, 'Altura', was hit by a drone some 15 nautical miles (28 kilometres) off Istanbul's Bosphorus strait, broadcaster NTV said, adding that its 27 personnel were safe.
According to the media reports, an explosion occurred on the bridge of the ship, which is owned by Turkish firm Beşiktaş. The blast led to water entering the oil tanker’s engine room.
According to Reuters, a Turkish coast guard vessel along with an emergency response ship was sent to assist the tanker. All crew members were safely rescued, the report said.
This marks the second drone attack on an oil tanker in the Black Sea this year. In January 2026, another tanker heading to Russia was hit by a drone, forcing it to seek help from the Turkish coast guard and change its route.
Earlier, in November 2025, shipping insurance rates surged after Ukrainian naval drones struck two Russia-bound tankers in the Black Sea. The incidents led Moscow to warn of retaliation, while Ankara called for restraint. However, Kyiv denied any involvement in the attacks.
- With inputs from agencies
