A drone attacked a tanker of the Russian “shadow fleet” in the Black Sea
26.03.2026 - 10:05
The vessel, which was carrying about 140 thousand tons of Russian oil, suffered damage to the hull and engine room, but the crew itself was not injured.
In the Black Sea off the coast of Turkey, the Altura tanker, which was carrying Russian crude oil, was attacked by a drone. The incident was reported by the Turkish television channel NTV.
The attack occurred approximately 15 nautical miles from the Bosphorus Strait. The vessel was carrying about 140 thousand tons of Russian oil.
As a result of the impact, the tanker suffered damage to the deck, bridge and engine room. According to preliminary data, water began to enter the engine room.
The vessel’s crew consists of 27 Turkish citizens. According to available information, there are no injuries.
After a signal for help, units of the Turkish Coast Guard, maritime security services and a specialized rescue vessel were sent to the scene of the incident.
According to Ukrainian intelligence, the Altura tanker belongs to the so-called shadow fleet of Russia, which is used to transport oil in circumvention of international sanctions. In particular, in 2024-2025, the ship transported about 6 million barrels of Russian oil.
Also, as USM wrote the day before, yesterday Ukrainian drones hit the Russian port of Ust-Luga in the Leningrad region of the Russian Federation. In particular, an enemy icebreaker was damaged.
