A Russian-flagged sunflower oil tanker reported that it had been attacked while sailing in the Black Sea waters near the Turkish city of Sinop, Reuters and the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported, citing data from the Turkish Maritime Affairs Directorate, BTA reported.
“The ship “MIDVOLGA-2“ (MIDVOLGA-2), traveling from Russia to Georgia, reported that it had been attacked 130 km from the Turkish coast, but did not request help and headed for the Turkish port of Sinop“, the Directorate said in a statement on the social network Ex. According to information from the Turkish authorities, the 13-member crew of the attacked ship is unharmed.
Meanwhile, the shipping agency Tribeca, quoted by Reuters, reported that the ship was attacked by a drone of unclear origin. According to Tribeca, the ship was traveling to the Turkish city of Mersin, not Georgia.
“The necessary messages have been transmitted to the relevant parties, including the Ukrainian authorities“, said a Turkish official, when asked for comment by Reuters.
Yesterday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that “attacks on commercial ships in the Black Sea are unacceptable“ and issued a warning to “all parties involved“.
Erdogan's comments came after two tankers, part of the so-called Russian “shadow fleet”, were hit by unmanned ships off Turkey's northern coast late on Friday, and on Saturday Ukrainian authorities took responsibility for the attack.