(MENAFN) A Russian-flagged tanker traveling toward Georgia was struck in the Black Sea, according to official statements from Türkiye. The incident comes shortly after Moscow accused Kiev of launching drone assaults on commercial ships operating in the region.

According to reports, Türkiye’s General Directorate of Maritime Affairs explained that the MIDVOLGA-2 tanker — transporting sunflower oil — notified authorities of an attack roughly 80 miles (120 km) off the Turkish coastline.

Officials stated: “The ship, which currently has no adverse conditions among its 13 personnel, has issued no request for assistance. The ship is proceeding towards Sinop on its own engines,” while offering no details about who was responsible for the strike.

Following the announcement, Russia’s Federal Agency for Sea and Inland Water Transport confirmed that the vessel had indeed been hit by a drone, noting that it suffered limited damage.

This assault occurred just days after explosive-laden sea drones targeted two Gambian-flagged tankers — the Kairos and the Virat — near Türkiye’s shores. According to reports, Ukrainian media claimed the strikes were carried out jointly by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the country’s navy.

Another suspected Ukrainian drone also recently hit a crude oil facility on Russia’s Black Sea coastline operated by the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), a multinational endeavor involving Russia, Kazakhstan, the United States, and multiple Western European states.

Moscow strongly condemned these actions as “terrorist attacks,” with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also accusing Ukraine of violating Türkiye’s sovereignty.

Although Ankara avoided attributing responsibility, its Foreign Ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating that the “incidents, which took place within our Exclusive Economic Zone in the Black Sea, have posed serious risks to navigation, human life, property and the environment.”

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