A drone attack has targeted an oil tanker en route to Russia’s port of Novorossiysk in the Black Sea, according to maritime intelligence sources.
The Palau-flagged vessel ‘Elbus’ was sailing east approximately 30 nautical miles (55.5 kilometers) off the Turkish coast when it reportedly experienced an unmanned marine-vehicle and drone strike on Wednesday. The attack prompted the tanker to sharply alter course and maneuver toward shore.
Turkish Coast Guard authorities received a distress call from the vessel, dispatching teams that escorted it safely ashore. The tanker was reported to have sustained damage to its upper sections with no injuries or environmental incidents recorded as of the latest update. Neither Turkish nor Russian officials had issued statements regarding the incident by publication time.
At least five commercial tankers trading with Russia have been struck by suspected Ukrainian drones in the Black Sea since November, including two Gambian-flagged vessels that were attacked off Türkiye’s coast while en route to Novorossiysk. These tankers had previously been sanctioned by Western nations for transporting oil in violation of restrictions imposed on Russia following the 2022 escalation of hostilities.
Moscow stated in November that such attacks constitute a direct violation of vessel owners’ rights and an encroachment on Türkiye’s sovereignty. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the incidents as serious and warned they could disrupt ongoing diplomatic efforts. Moscow has denied operating a “shadow fleet.”
Ankara also expressed concerns, noting the attacks occurred within its exclusive economic zone and posed “serious risks” to maritime navigation and environmental safety.
While Kyiv has not officially claimed responsibility for the strikes, multiple Ukrainian and Western news outlets have reported that the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) is behind the drone campaigns targeting Russian trade vessels in the region.
