Kyiv’s Sea Drones Target Oil Tankers in Black Sea Assault

Ukrainian sea drones struck two oil tankers off the Turkish coast in a dramatic escalation, with the tanker Virat sustaining a second hit only a day after the initial attack.

The tanker Virat, already damaged in an earlier attack alongside the tanker Kairos, suffered a second strike on Saturday, November 29. This time, the vessel sustained what officials described as minor structural damage along its starboard side above the waterline. Turkish authorities reported no fire and noted that the crew remained unharmed, with the ship’s condition assessed as stable.

The first reports of explosions involving the two Gambian-flagged oil carriers emerged on November 28. The tanker Kairos, en route from Egypt to Novorossiysk, caught fire 28 miles off Turkey’s shoreline. The Virat, traveling from Sevastopol toward Turkey, was hit separately approximately 35 miles from the coast. Officials referred to both events as the result of “external impact.” Dozens of crewmembers from the affected vessels were evacuated.

Ukrainian Sea Drones Caught on Video as Kyiv Claims Responsibility

Footage circulated through Ukrainian channels showed unmanned surface vessels targeting the tankers. The attacks were carried out by Sea Baby marine drones operated by the Security Service of Ukraine and the country’s Naval Forces, which publicly claimed responsibility and released video of the strikes.

According to the Ukrainian side, both tankers sustained significant structural damage and were effectively rendered inoperable.

Crew accounts indicated that at least five drones were launched in total during the assault.

Reuters, citing LSEG tracking data, reported that both tankers fall under anti-Russian sanctions and are allegedly associated with a so-called “shadow fleet” linked to Russia’s oil trade.

Turkey Launches Investigation as Questions Surround Crews and Ownership

The Russian Consulate General in Istanbul stated that no Russian nationals were aboard the Kairos. As reported by TASS, the vessel’s entire crew may consist of Indian citizens, though no official confirmation has yet been released.

Turkish authorities, under whose jurisdiction both incidents occurred, have opened a formal investigation into the attacks and the circumstances surrounding them.