Home / War and Conflict / Black Sea Tanker Hit By Suspected Drone Attack
Black Sea Tanker Hit By Suspected Drone Attack
8 Jan
Summary
- A Russia-bound oil tanker, the Elbus, was struck by a suspected drone.
- The vessel issued a distress call and headed towards Turkish waters.
- This marks the fifth tanker hit in the Black Sea since November.
A suspected drone strike has impacted a Russia-bound oil tanker, the Elbus, in the Black Sea. The vessel, sailing approximately 30 miles off the coast of Turkey, reportedly emitted a distress call after sustaining damage to its upper sections. Turkish coastguard teams were dispatched and assisted the tanker, which then changed course towards Turkish waters.
The Palau-flagged Elbus, built in 2005 and registered to a Hong Kong company, was not under Western sanctions. This incident is the fifth time a tanker has been targeted in the Black Sea since November, indicating a pattern of disruption to Russia's oil export revenue. The vessel was headed for Novorossiysk, a key Russian port.
Fortunately, no injuries to the crew were reported. This event follows closely behind the US seizure of the Russian-linked Marinera tanker in the North Atlantic due to sanctions related to Venezuela, underscoring heightened maritime tensions and international scrutiny of oil flows.
