Two Russian tankers, part of a shadow fleet, were set ablaze in the Black Sea on November 17, 2023, following suspected strikes by Ukrainian naval drones near the Turkish coast. The incidents, which involved the tankers Kairos and Virat, prompted extensive rescue operations, ensuring the safe evacuation of all crew members. The Turkish Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure confirmed that crews were evacuated without injury as firefighting efforts continued.
The Kairos, a 274-meter vessel sailing from Egypt to Russia’s Novorossiysk port, experienced an explosion approximately 28 nautical miles from the Turkish coast. Rescue teams from the General Directorate of Coastal Safety successfully evacuated all 25 personnel onboard. “During the Egypt-Russia voyage, the 25 personnel on the Kairos tanker were safely evacuated by our teams,” stated the ministry in a recent update.
Efforts to extinguish the fire involved Turkish vessels Kurtarma-12, a tugboat, and Nene Hatun, an emergency response vessel, which worked tirelessly overnight. By the next day, the ministry reported that “the fire on the open deck has been completely extinguished, and extinguishing and cooling efforts continue in the enclosed areas.”
Later on the same day, the Virat was struck approximately 35 nautical miles offshore, resulting in heavy smoke in its engine room. All 20 crew members were confirmed to be in good health, and Turkish rescue units were dispatched to assist. As the situation escalated into the following morning, the Virat endured a second strike from unmanned vessels, sustaining minor damage to its starboard side. Despite this, it was reported that “the vessel is maintaining its stable condition.”
Both tankers are currently under international sanctions due to their involvement in transporting Russian oil. The Kairos is specifically sanctioned by the UK and EU, while the Virat faces sanctions from the U.S. and EU as well. Ukrainian officials have claimed responsibility for the attacks, stating that the naval drones targeted the tankers to disrupt shipments of oil intended for foreign markets.
An official from the Security Service of Ukraine commented to Reuters, “Video shows that after being hit, both tankers sustained critical damage and were effectively taken out of service. This will deal a significant blow to Russian oil transportation.” The attacks illustrate Ukraine’s escalating campaign against Russian energy infrastructure, marking a shift from previous assaults on land-based facilities.
Maritime intelligence analyst Michelle Wiese Bockmann from Windward AI highlighted that the Kairos was recently removed from the Gambian ship registry due to fraudulent certificates. “This vessel is flagless, stateless, and any insurance and class are invalidated,” she noted, emphasizing the risks associated with the so-called “dark fleet.”
In a related development, the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, which accounts for over 1% of global oil exports, suspended operations after a mooring at its Black Sea terminal was damaged by a Ukrainian drone attack. Kazakhstan, a key player in the consortium, condemned the incident as unacceptable.
As firefighting operations continue, Turkish environmental units and divers remain on standby to inspect the area. Notably, shipping traffic through the Bosphorus Strait has not been disrupted, maintaining normal operations despite the incidents in the Black Sea. The events underscore the ongoing tensions in the region and the strategic implications of Ukraine’s counteroffensive measures.
