Russian-flagged tanker reports attack off the coast of Turkey, Ukraine denies involvement

Thirteen crew members are on board. The vessel did not request assistance, and there were no immediate reports of injuries. The tanker was last reported to be moving toward the Turkish port city of Sinop.

Russia’s Federal Agency for Maritime and River Transport confirmed the attack, saying that the tanker was struck by a drone at around 8 a.m.

“There is minor damage to the ship’s superstructure, but no flooding,” the state-controlled news agency TASS quoted the Russian authority as saying.

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Heorhii Tykhyi, said that Ukraine had no role in Tuesday’s attack and argued the the “alleged route from Russia to Georgia across Türkiye's EEZ makes no sense.” He added that “Russia may have staged the whole thing.”

Late last week, two tankers linked to Russia’s “shadow fleet” were damaged in explosions while sailing to the port of Novorossiysk. Ukrainian media, citing intelligence sources, later reported that Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) had claimed responsibility for the operation, which they said involved upgraded Sea Baby maritime drones.