Alarms raised after another tanker attack in the Black Sea

A Russian-flagged tanker carrying sunflower oil from Russia to Georgia reported coming under attack about 80 miles off Turkey’s coast.

The ship, MIDVOLGA-2, continued toward Sinop without requesting help, and local media said the strike involved a kamikaze drone. Turkey confirmed it relayed messages to “relevant parties,” including Ukraine, but offered no further details, as reported by Reuters. 

The incident follows Ukrainian naval-drone attacks last week on two Russian-bound tankers sanctioned by Kyiv and some Western allies. 

In response to rising risks, Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan warned that attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea are unacceptable.

The war between Russia and Ukraine has clearly begun to threaten navigational safety in the Black Sea. The targeting of vessels in our Exclusive Economic Zone on Friday signals a worrying escalation 

… Erdogan told reporters.

Turkey, a NATO member, maintains working relations with both Russia and Ukraine: it provides military support to Kyiv but does not join Western sanctions on Moscow. Furthermore, Ankara has hosted multiple rounds of peace talks and continues to push for negotiated solutions and improved navigational safety in the Black Sea, Reuters notes. 

source : safety4sea