A Russia-bound oil tanker was struck in a reported drone attack in the Black Sea, forcing the vessel to change course and seek assistance from the Turkish Coast Guard, maritime sources said. The Palau-flagged tanker Elbus was sailing toward the Russian port of Novorossiysk from Singapore when it experienced an unmanned aerial and marine-vehicle assault near the Turkish coast, according to a notification by maritime data provider Lloyd’s List Intelligence. No crew members were injured and no pollution was reported.
Following the incident, the Elbus diverted from its original eastbound route and anchored off the northern Turkish port of İnebolu under its own power, where Turkish authorities are assessing the vessel and any damage. A maritime security source described the episode as a drone attack, though it remains unclear who was responsible or what group or state might have carried it out. Turkey’s Transport Ministry and the Russian Embassy in Ankara had not issued immediate statements.
The attack comes after a series of recent strikes on tankers linked to Russian oil shipments in the same waters, which have already driven up insurance rates for vessels operating in the region. Previous similar incidents late last year prompted warnings from Moscow about potential retaliation and calls for calm from Ankara. The Black Sea remains a strategically vital corridor for the transport of crude, refined products and grain, and security concerns continue to pose risks for international shipping.