A Turkish oil tanker carrying Russian crude oil was reportedly targeted in a drone attack in the Black Sea, reports Turkish media.
The vessel, identified as ALTURA, had departed from Russia and was transporting approximately 140,000 tons of crude oil at the time of the incident.
Based on the initial reports, the attack occurred around 24 kilometers off the coast of the Bosphorus Strait, a strategically vital maritime corridor linking the Black Sea to global shipping routes.
The drone strike is said to have caused an explosion onboard, damaging the tanker’s engine room and leading to water ingress. Despite the impact, no casualties have been reported among the crew.
The extent of structural damage and potential environmental risks remain unclear, and authorities have not yet issued an official statement detailing the cause of the attack or attributing responsibility.
The Black Sea region has seen heightened security risks since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with both military and commercial vessels increasingly exposed to drone and missile threats. Energy infrastructure and shipping routes, in particular, have become sensitive targets amid ongoing hostilities.
The incident also raises concerns over maritime safety near the Bosphorus, one of the world’s busiest and most critical chokepoints for oil transit, through which millions of barrels pass daily.
Further details are expected as investigations continue.
