Türkiye Says Oil Tanker Virat Came Under Second Attack

(MENAFN) Türkiye's Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure confirmed Saturday that the unloaded petroleum vessel Virat endured a repeat assault in Black Sea waters, suffering minimal structural harm.

The tanker experienced a strike in the early morning hours Saturday from "unmanned surface vessels" approximately 35 miles from shore near the Bosphorus Strait, ministry officials disclosed. "The vessel sustained minor damage to its starboard side above the waterline," the ministry stated, adding that the ship maintained operational stability with all personnel unharmed.

This weekend assault marks the vessel's second hostile encounter within 24 hours. On Friday, Virat faced an initial drone boat offensive, while a separate empty tanker destined for Russia—the Kairos—ignited following a detonation 28 miles from Turkish territorial waters. Turkish officials attributed the Kairos blast to "an external factor."

Maritime authorities confirmed zero casualties among the 20 seafarers aboard Virat and 25 crew members on Kairos. Emergency fire suppression and temperature control measures remained ongoing aboard the 274-meter Kairos, which had been traveling from Egypt toward Russia.

No entity has claimed responsibility for the coordinated strikes. Multiple news organizations, referencing anonymous intelligence sources, have indicated both tankers were allegedly transporting Russian petroleum exports and may have been Ukraine-directed targets.

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