A commercial oil tanker sailing towards Russia has been targeted and hit by a suspected aerial drone in the Black Sea, marking the latest escalation in maritime attacks linked to the Ukraine conflict.
Attack Details and Immediate Response
The vessel involved is the Elbus, an 899-foot oil tanker flying the flag of Palau. The incident occurred on Thursday approximately 30 miles off the coast of Turkey, near the Abana district of Kastamonu. Reports indicate the ship was seen with smoke pouring from its deck following the strike.
After issuing a distress call, the Elbus abruptly changed course to make for Turkish territorial waters. Turkish coastguard teams were swiftly dispatched to the area. They subsequently towed the damaged tanker to the port of Inebolu for a full inspection. Authorities confirmed that no injuries were reported among the crew.
Pattern of Attacks and Broader Context
The Elbus, built in 2005 and reportedly registered to a company in Hong Kong, was en route to the key Russian oil export terminal of Novorossiysk. It is believed the vessel was intending to load crude oil. Initial assessments point to the attack being carried out by a Ukrainian aerial drone.
This event represents the fifth tanker to be hit in the Black Sea since November. These strikes appear to form a concerted Ukrainian campaign to disrupt Russian oil revenues, which are seen as vital for funding Moscow's military operations.
Parallel US Action in the Atlantic
The maritime incident comes just a day after a significant, unrelated seizure by the United States. On Wednesday, US forces apprehended the Russian-linked Marinera crude oil tanker in the North Atlantic. This action was part of sanctions enforcement against Venezuela.
US officials stated the Marinera, which had recently switched to a Russian flag, was part of a 'shadow fleet' used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran. The operation, which involved a weeks-long chase and US special forces, risked confrontation with Russian naval assets in the area.
In a separate but related move, the US Coast Guard also intercepted the Panama-flagged M Sophia tanker near South America, which was carrying a full load of Venezuelan oil.
These simultaneous events—a kinetic drone attack in the Black Sea and a high-seas seizure in the Atlantic—highlight the expanding front lines of economic and military conflict, with global shipping increasingly caught in the crossfire.
