Turkish Tanker Carrying Russian Oil Struck by Naval Drone in the Black Sea
The Altura, a cargo ship flying a Sierra Leonean flag and owned by a Turkish company, was targeted by a naval drone in the Black Sea, less than 30 km from the northern entrance to the Bosphorus, according to Ankara.
| Sectors | Oil, Transport & Storage |
|---|---|
| Themes | Policy & Geopolitics, Armed Conflict |
| Countries | Türkiye, Russia, Ukraine, Sierra Leone |
A cargo ship flying a Sierra Leonean flag and owned by a Turkish company was struck by what Ankara authorities describe as a naval drone attack, early Thursday morning in the Black Sea. Turkish Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu confirmed the incident on private channel 24 TV, stating the explosion "specifically targeted the engine room." The vessel targeted, the Altura, had left a Russian port before the attack, according to the minister. Tensions over global oil supply, already acute in the region, have recently weighed on crude prices.
The Altura: Part of Russia's "Shadow Fleet"
The incident occurred less than 30 km from the northern entrance to the Bosphorus Strait, according to several Turkish media outlets. Uraloglu did not specify whether the attack took place in Turkish territorial waters. The Altura is among the tankers Moscow uses to circumvent Western sanctions, a mechanism commonly referred to as the "shadow fleet." Several such vessels had already been attacked by Ukraine in late 2025 within Turkey's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the Black Sea.
Those incidents drew a sharp reaction from Ankara. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had called for an end to what he described as a "worrying escalation." The Black Sea represents a strategic corridor for Russian oil exports, notably via the Bosphorus Strait, a chokepoint whose disruptions can ripple through global markets.
Attacker's Identity Not Immediately Established
The identity of the attacker was not officially established immediately. Ankara also did not confirm whether the incident occurred in its territorial waters, a clarification that would determine Turkey's legal and diplomatic obligations. Russia's shadow fleet, composed of vessels of various nationalities and flags of convenience, enables Moscow to sell its oil despite restrictions imposed by Western nations. The attack on the Altura underscores the growing risks bearing on these transit routes across the Black Sea.
