According to information provided by the Turkish Directorate General of Maritime Affairs, the tanker Midvolga 2 was attacked approximately 120 kilometers from the Turkish coast. The vessel, which was heading to Georgia with a cargo of sunflower oil, had 13 crew members on board, but there are no reports of injuries. The tanker is currently en route to the port of Sinop in Turkey.
Previously, a series of four external explosions occurred on the tanker Mersin, which was transporting Russian oil, off the coast of Senegal in West Africa. As a result of these explosions, a breach was created in the hull, affecting the engine room; however, the crew remained unharmed, and environmental contamination was avoided, as reported by Bloomberg.
On the eve, on November 28, the tankers Kairos and Virat, belonging to the "shadow fleet" of Russia, became victims of an attack by Sea Baby marine drones conducted by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). The vessels were in the Black Sea off the coast of Turkey and were heading to Novorossiysk without cargo. Both tankers are registered under the flag of Gambia and are under international sanctions.
Erdoğan called the attacks on commercial vessels in close proximity to Turkish shores unacceptable. He emphasized that the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine is beginning to threaten the safety of navigation in the Black Sea. "The attack on vessels in our exclusive economic zone on Friday demonstrates a troubling escalation," noted the President of Turkey.
