Türkiye expresses concern over Ukrainian strikes on Russia's shadow fleet tankers
Photo: Turkey "concerned" by SBU attacks on Russian "shadow fleet" tankers (Getty Images)
The Turkish government has expressed concern over the SBU's drone attacks on two oil tankers of Russia's "shadow fleet" in the Black Sea, according to the spokesperson of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Öncü Keçeli.
According to him, Turkish authorities "view with concern" the attacks carried out on November 28 on the commercial tankers Kairos and Virat, flying the Gambian flag, in the Black Sea.
"These incidents, which occurred within Türkiye’s Exclusive Economic Zone in the Black Sea, have posed serious risks to the safety of navigation, life, property, and the environment in the region," the spokesperson said.
He added that Türkiye is maintaining "contacts with the relevant parties" to prevent the spread and further escalation of the conflict in the Black Sea, as well as to avoid any negative impact on Turkey's economic interests and activities in the region.
SBU attacks on Russia's shadow fleet tankers
On November 28, explosions occurred in the Black Sea near the Bosporus on two tankers belonging to Russia's shadow fleet – Kairos and Virat – causing both vessels to catch fire.
Regarding the 274-meter tanker Kairos, the Turkish Ministry of Transport clarified that an explosion and fire occurred while it was traveling from Egypt to the Russian port of Novorossiysk. The incident happened 28 nautical miles off the Turkish coast.
Another tanker, Virat, was damaged by an explosion about 35 nautical miles from the Turkish coast, slightly to the east in the Black Sea.
Yesterday, it was reported that the Virat tanker of Russia’s shadow fleet, which caught fire after the explosions near the Bosporus on November 28, was attacked again.
Later, RBC-Ukraine sources confirmed that these tankers were hit by SBU Sea Baby maritime drones equipped with enhanced warheads.
The operation was a joint effort by the 13th Main Directorate of Military Counterintelligence of the SBU and the Ukrainian Navy.
Both tankers, Kairos and Virat, are included on the list of vessels subject to sanctions against Russia imposed after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
It is known that at the time of the attack, the sanctioned ships were empty and heading to load oil at the port of Novorossiysk.
