The vessel, named Altura, was hit around 15 nautical miles off the Bosphorus Strait near Istanbul. Broadcaster NTV** reported that all 27 crew members on board were safe despite the incident.
The tanker, sailing under a Sierra Leone flag, had departed from Novorossiysk in Russia carrying around 1 million barrels of crude oil. The ship is under sanctions imposed by the European Union and the United Kingdom.
Reports said the explosion occurred on the bridge of the tanker, which is owned by Turkish firm Besiktas, leading to water entering the engine room. Emergency assistance was quickly deployed, with the Turkish coast guard and a rescue vessel sent to the scene. All crew members were safely evacuated.
This marks the second such drone-related incident involving oil tankers in the Black Sea in 2026. Earlier in January, another tanker heading to Russia was attacked and had to seek assistance from Turkish authorities.
Similar attacks in November 2025, reportedly involving Ukrainian naval drones targeting Russia-bound tankers, had already raised shipping insurance costs and heightened tensions, with Moscow warning of retaliation while Kyiv denied involvement.
