Three Tankers Hit by Drone Strikes in Black Sea Amid Rising Tensions

Updated: May 28, 2026

Three Tankers Hit by Drone Strikes in Black Sea Amid Rising Tensions

• Coastal safety vessels were deployed to the incident site, and all crew members on board the tankers are reported to be safe.

Updated: May 28, 2026

Source: Reuters

May 28, 2026 07:24

ISTANBUL: Drone attacks targeted three tankers in the Black Sea on Thursday near Turkey’s northern coast, according to shipping agency Tribeca. The vessel James II, flying the Palau flag and carrying ballast, was approximately 50 nautical miles north of the Turkeli area when the strike occurred. Separately, the tankers Altura and Velora, operating under the Sierra Leone flag and also in ballast, were attacked nearby during a ship‑to‑ship operation. Safety boats were dispatched to assist, and all crew members are reported to be unharmed. These incidents follow a pattern of attacks on maritime assets by Moscow and Kyiv since Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine four years ago, though neither side has claimed responsibility for the latest event. The Turkish Ministry of Transport was unavailable for comment due to the Muslim Eid holiday.

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