Early Thursday, a Turkish-operated tanker carrying Russian oil was damaged in a suspected sea-drone attack in the Black Sea. Turkey's Transport Minister stated the engine room was specifically targeted by an unmanned marine vehicle, ruling out an aerial attack. The investigation will determine if the strike occurred at or below the water level.

Details of the Incident

The foreign-flagged vessel, the Altura, suffered engine damage from a blast after midnight that severely shook the ship's bridge and disabled equipment. There were no casualties among the 27 crew members and no oil spill reported. The Suezmax-sized tanker was fully loaded with approximately 1 million barrels of Urals crude from Novorossiysk, Russia, and was located about 26 nautical miles from the mouth of the Bosphorus Strait. The Altura is sanctioned by the UK and the EU, but not by the US.

Geopolitical Context and Reactions

The Turkish Transport Minister suggested the attack could be linked to the war in Ukraine, noting the vessel was carrying oil, not dry cargo. Turkey's Foreign Ministry condemned the attack, stating such incidents within the country's exclusive economic zone violate international law. Ankara reserves the right to take necessary measures to protect its economic interests and is engaging with relevant parties to prevent further escalation. The Turkish government is concerned the conflict could spread further into the Black Sea, potentially threatening Russian natural gas shipments via pipelines like TurkStream and Blue Stream, which Russia recently claimed to have defended from Ukrainian strikes.

Broader Pattern and Implications

This incident is part of a pattern, as Russia-connected oil tankers have been targeted several times within Turkey's exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea over the past year. Ankara has repeatedly cautioned both Ukraine and Russia against actions that threaten safety and navigation in the waterway. The attack occurs against a backdrop of soaring Russian oil revenues, driven by higher prices and eased sanctions. Notably, a Greek oil tanker was similarly damaged by a projectile or drone in the Black Sea two weeks ago while en route to Russia.