BLACK SEA TANKERS POSSIBLY STRUCK BY MINES, MISSILES, OR DRONES, SAYS TURKISH OFFICIAL. (PHOTO).

 Black Sea tankers possibly struck by mines, missiles, or drones, says Turkish official

 Two oil tankers linked to Russia’s “shadow fleet” that evade sanctions were struck off Turkey’s Black Sea coast, possibly by mines, drones, or missiles, a senior Turkish official said Saturday. The vessels, named Kairos and Virat, were hit in quick succession late Friday afternoon, prompting rescue operations. All crew members aboard both tankers were reported safe.

Turkish Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said initial reports indicated the Kairos may have struck a mine, while the Virat experienced an explosion. “The first things that come to mind for external interference could be a mine, a missile, a marine vessel, or a drone. We don’t have definitive information on this,” Uraloglu told NTV. He later added that the Virat’s captain had reported a “drone attack.” The incidents occurred within Turkey’s exclusive economic zone, and authorities are coordinating with international counterparts to ensure navigational safety.

The Kairos caught fire in enclosed areas, while the Virat did not blaze and did not request evacuation, though smoke was reported in its engine room. Ukrainian forces have previously targeted Russian shipping using marine drones, mostly in the northern Black Sea.

The Kairos, flagged in Gambia and built in 2002, was sailing empty toward Russia’s Novorossiysk port about 28 nautical miles off Kocaeli province. The Virat, built in 2018, was struck roughly 35 nautical miles off the Turkish coast. Rescue teams evacuated all 25 crew on the Kairos and all 20 aboard the Virat.

Both vessels are under international sanctions. The Virat was sanctioned by the U.S., EU, Switzerland, U.K., and Canada, while the Kairos was sanctioned by the EU, U.K., and Switzerland. OpenSanctions notes that the shadow fleet generates multibillion-dollar revenues for the Kremlin, disguising its activities under third-country flags and posing environmental risks. Both ships have a history of switching off tracking systems, visiting ports in Russia, China, Turkey, India, and others, and operating under high-risk shipping practices.