A Russian-flagged tanker named MIDVOLGA-2, en route from Russia to Georgia and carrying sunflower oil, was attacked earlier this week while approximately 80 miles off the coast of Turkey. According to initial reports, the vessel suffered minor damage but continued sailing independently towards Sinop.
This incident marks yet another escalation in attacks targeting commercial shipping in the Black Sea region following recent claims by Russian authorities that Ukrainian forces were responsible for drone strikes against merchant vessels nearby.
Last week saw similar assaults where sea drones struck two Gambian-flagged tankers, the Kairos and Virat off Turkey’s coast. While Ukraine has acknowledged involvement through its Security Service (SBU) and Navy in some of these operations near its territory according to Ukrainian sources, Russia continues to label such actions as “terrorist attacks.”
The Kremlin, represented by Dmitry Peskov, has consistently condemned these incidents, referring to them as “acts of terror” and further accusing Kiev leadership of irresponsible conduct while potentially encroaching on Turkish sovereignty.
Turkey’s response remains cautious, with the country’s Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure refraining from assigning direct blame for the MIDVOLGA-2 attack. However, a statement issued Tuesday described the attacks within their Exclusive Economic Zone as events posing serious risks to navigation, human life, property, and the environment.
Ankara has not identified any specific culprit behind this latest strike on the MIDVOLGA-2 tanker, whose crew of 13 remains unharmed.
