Three crude-oil tankers sanctioned for Russia’s shadow fleet were attacked by drones off Turkey’s Black Sea coast overnight May 25-26 while conducting ship-to-ship transfers, Turkish sources said [1]. The Turkish-managed tankers Altura and Velora were among those hit near Turkey [1].
On May 28, Russian drones targeted three foreign-flagged merchant vessels sailing Ukraine’s Black Sea export corridor, which caused fires that crews later extinguished, according to Ukrainian officials [2]. The vessels carried flags from Vanuatu, the Comoros, and Panama. One Turkey-owned cargo ship registered in Vanuatu, the Ant, suffered a fire that led to evacuation and two crew injuries [2]. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said, "The strikes caused fires on the vessels, but they were extinguished by the crews." [2]
Meanwhile, Ukrainian drones attacked a tanker and an oil depot in southern Russia’s Rostov and Krasnodar regions overnight May 29-30, causing fires that were extinguished without major oil spills [3]. Two people were injured in the Taganrog tanker strike but no injuries were reported at the Armavir depot [3]. Rostov Governor Yury Slyusar said, "Fires on the tanker and in the port of Taganrog had been extinguished, with no oil spill reported. Two people were injured." [3]
A local state of emergency declared on May 27 in the city of Taganrog, population about 240,000, was extended following the drone strikes [3]. Nearly 50 drones were downed in the Rostov region during multiple attacks across the border province [3].
There are differing accounts of the May attacks on tankers. One report said drones targeted sanctioned oil tankers near Turkey’s Black Sea coast around May 25-26 [1]. Another said Russian drones attacked foreign vessels near Ukraine’s maritime export corridor on May 28 [2].
The latest confirmed strikes occurred overnight May 29-30 in Russia’s south, with emergency responses ongoing. Authorities are monitoring the situation following the extended state of emergency in Taganrog [3].
