CaliToday (02/12/2025): Tensions in the Black Sea have reached a boiling point following a drone strike on a Russian-flagged tanker off the Turkish coast. The incident, confirmed on Tuesday, marks the third attack on commercial shipping in the region within a single week, signaling a bold new phase in Ukraine's strategy to dismantle Russia’s economic lifelines.
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| A tanker in Russia's so-called 'shadow fleet', the Panama-flagged Eventin, is seen off the coast of Germany in April 2025 [File: Tobias Schlie/Reuters] |
The Incident: Strike on the Midvolga-2
The Turkish Directorate General of Maritime Affairs reported that the Midvolga-2, a chemical/oil products tanker, signaled distress approximately 130km (80 miles) off the Turkish coast.
The Weapon: While officials have not released forensic details, Turkish broadcaster NTV reports that a "kamikaze drone" (loitering munition) was responsible for the strike.
The Cargo: In a twist of irony, while the attacks are aimed at crippling Russia's crude oil exports, the Midvolga-2 was reportedly transporting sunflower oil to Georgia at the time of the incident.
The Aftermath: Fortunately, the 13-member crew was unharmed. The vessel did not request emergency tug assistance and is currently limping towards the Turkish port of Sinop for inspection.
Target: The "Shadow Fleet"
This attack is not an isolated event but part of a calculated campaign by Kyiv to target Russia's so-called "Shadow Fleet"—a flotilla of aging, often uninsured vessels used by Moscow to transport crude oil in violation of Western price caps and sanctions.
Just days prior, on Friday, Ukrainian naval drones struck two other Russian-flagged vessels, the Kairos and the Virat, which Kyiv intelligence identified as key assets in Russia's illicit oil trade.
Why Ukraine is striking now: According to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), the scale of this sanctions-busting operation is massive:
113 vessels have been identified sailing under false flags or obscure registrations in just the first nine months of this year.
11 million tonnes of Russian crude have been transported via these ships.
$5.4 billion (approx. €4.7bn) in value has been generated, directly fueling the Kremlin's war chest.
🇹🇷 Türkiye's Diplomatic Tightrope
The location of the attack—deep within the maritime zone of a NATO member—has rattled Ankara. Türkiye finds itself performing a delicate diplomatic balancing act: supplying Ukraine with military drones (Bayraktars) while refusing to join Western sanctions against Moscow to maintain its role as a potential peace mediator.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has issued a stern rebuke, labeling the attacks a "worrying escalation."
Official Statement: "We cannot condone these attacks, which threaten navigational safety, life, and the environment, especially in our own exclusive zone... The necessary messages were conveyed to the relevant parties, including Ukrainian authorities." Turkish Official (via Reuters)
Ankara's primary fear is not just political, but environmental. A drone strike on a fully loaded crude tanker could cause a catastrophic oil spill in the Black Sea, devastating Turkish coastlines and tourism.
The Energy War Front
This maritime offensive runs parallel to Kyiv's intensified strikes on land-based energy infrastructure. As Russia continues to pound the Ukrainian power grid, Ukraine has shifted tactics to "starve the beast" by hitting:
Refineries: To reduce Russia's domestic fuel supply.
Crude Terminals: To halt exports.
Shipping: To make the Black Sea uninsurable and too risky for Russian commerce.
Coinciding with the tanker attack, authorities in the southern Russian region of Oryol reported a fire at a fuel facility on Tuesday caused by a separate Ukrainian drone strike, confirming that Kyiv is stretching the battlefield hundreds of kilometers beyond the front lines.