Turkish-operated tanker carrying Russian oil hit in suspected underwater attack in Black Sea

The vessel, sailing under a Sierra Leone flag, reported an explosion in its engine room shortly after midnight.

Authorities believe the blast was externally caused and deliberately targeted a critical section of the ship.

Unmanned surface vehicle suspected

Officials indicated that the attack was likely carried out using an unmanned surface vehicle operating at water level, rather than an aerial drone.

The nature of the damage suggested a focused attempt to disable the tanker by hitting its engine systems.

Uraloglu stated that the engine room appeared to have been specifically targeted, pointing to a calculated strike rather than an accidental incident.

Incident near strategic Bosphorus region

While authorities did not confirm the exact location, local media reports suggested the attack occurred less than 30 kilometres from the Bosphorus Strait, a vital global shipping route connecting the Black Sea to international waters.

Emergency response teams were dispatched to the site, and officials said the situation was being closely monitored.

Rising security concerns in Black Sea

The incident comes amid heightened tensions linked to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, which has increasingly affected maritime security in the region.

In recent months, Turkey has faced multiple security challenges connected to the conflict.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has previously warned against the Black Sea turning into a direct zone of confrontation between opposing sides.

Turkey’s delicate strategic position

Turkey maintains working relations with both Moscow and Kyiv, balancing diplomatic and economic ties since the outbreak of the conflict in February 2022.

With its northern coastline bordering Ukraine and the annexed region of Crimea, the country remains strategically positioned in the evolving security landscape of the Black Sea, where incidents involving energy shipments and maritime routes continue to raise global concerns.