BREAKING: Three Tankers Targeted in Drone Attacks in the Black Sea Off Turkey's Coast

Three commercial tankers came under drone attacks in the Black Sea near Turkey’s northern coast on Thursday, according to shipping risk agency Tribeca. All crew members were reported safe, with no immediate details on the extent of damage or the perpetrators.

The incidents occurred in international waters off Turkey’s Black Sea coastline:

Turkish coastal safety boats were dispatched to assist the vessels. Crews on all three tankers are said to be in good condition.

Neither Russia nor Ukraine has claimed responsibility for the attacks. The Turkish Transport Ministry has not yet issued an official comment, partly due to the ongoing Eid holiday.

Context in the Ongoing Black Sea Conflict

This latest incident fits into a long pattern of drone strikes on commercial shipping in the Black Sea since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Both sides have repeatedly targeted ports, infrastructure, and vessels linked to the other’s energy exports as a way to disrupt war funding and logistics.

Many such attacks have focused on Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” — older tankers used to transport sanctioned Russian oil, often under flags of convenience and with complex ownership structures to evade Western price caps and sanctions.

No major oil spills have been reported so far, as the vessels were in ballast (empty or lightly loaded).

Maritime authorities and insurers are monitoring the area closely due to the strategic importance of the Black Sea routes and the Bosphorus Strait.

Updates will be provided as more details emerge from Turkish authorities, shipping firms, or involved parties.