Finance
Tanker Carrying Russian Oil Hit by Drone in Black Sea Near Turkey
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 26, 2026
3 min readLast updated: March 26, 2026
Add as preferred source on Google
Quick Summary
A marine drone strike hit the EU- and UK‑sanctioned Sierra Leone‑flagged tanker Altura carrying ~1 million barrels of Russian oil about 33 km from the Bosphorus on March 26. All 27 crew are safe. This follows a broader pattern of drone attacks escalating war‑risk insurance in the Black Sea.
Russian Oil Tanker Struck by Drone in Black Sea Near Bosphorus, Crew Safe
Details of the Drone Attack on Russian Oil Tanker
Incident Overview
ISTANBUL, March 26 (Reuters) - A marine drone struck a crude oil tanker that had departed Russia, causing an explosion in the Black Sea near Istanbul's Bosphorus strait on Thursday, Turkey's transportation minister said.
The incident, one of several in recent months involving Western-sanctioned vessels heading to or from Russian ports, occurred in the early hours, minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu told broadcaster Kanal 24.
Crew Safety and Immediate Response
All 27 crew were safe, he said, adding that the coastguard had been dispatched to the vessel, the Altura, which was about 18 nautical miles (33 km) from the Bosphorus, a key commodities-shipping channel linking the Black Sea with the Marmara and the Mediterranean.
The attack, just outside Turkish territorial waters, likely aimed to disable the engine room in the Sierra Leone-flagged vessel that was carrying Russian oil, Uraloglu said.
Vessel and Cargo Information
Origin and Cargo Details
Ship-tracking and Refinitiv AIS data showed the vessel had left Russia's port of Novorossiysk with about 1 million barrels of crude oil and appeared almost fully laden.
Sanctions and Regional Context
The ship is sanctioned by the European Union and Britain. The Black Sea is shared by Russia and Ukraine, which have been at war for more than four years, as well as other states.
Security Concerns in the Black Sea
Turkish Monitoring and Response
Turkey's defence ministry said on Thursday it was closely monitoring risks posed in the Black Sea by drones, given their extensive use in the Russia-Ukraine war. Risks included drones losing control or mobility, drifting towards the Turkish coast, it said.
"We are talking to our counterparts and conveying necessary warnings to maintain navigational safety in the Black Sea," it said at its weekly briefing without mentioning Thursday's drone attack, and added Turkish naval vessels were patrolling the area to prevent any damage to vessels or civilians.
Previous Incidents and Rising Tensions
Late last year, shipping insurance rates rose after Ukrainian naval drones hit Russia-bound tankers in the Black Sea, prompting Moscow to threaten retaliation and NATO-member Turkey to urge calm.
Ankara has warned both Kyiv and Moscow against carrying out such attacks near its territorial waters amid the escalation in the Black Sea earlier, which saw Russian and Turkish vessels hit by drones and Ukrainian ports damaged.
Further Reactions and Ship Ownership
International and Owner Response
There was no immediate comment from Moscow or Kyiv on Thursday.
The registered owner of the latest ship to be hit is China-based Sea Grace Shipping Ltd and the manager is the Turkey-based Pergamon Denizcilik, according to Refinitiv data.
Reuters could not immediately contact Pergamon.
Explosion Details and Crew Actions
Broadcaster NTV earlier reported an explosion on the ship's bridge and water entering the engine room, before the crew sought assistance from Turkish authorities.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Can Sezer, Tuvan Gumrukcu and Daren Butler. Writing by Jonathan Spicer; Editing by Christian Schmollinger, Mark Potter and Arun Koyyur)
Key Takeaways
- •The Altura, departing Novorossiysk with nearly 1 million barrels of crude, was hit by a marine drone near Istanbul’s Bosphorus; explosion struck bridge and engine room, but no casualties were reported. (reddit.com)
- •Similar drone strikes in late 2025 targeted sanctioned tankers Kairos and Virat heading to Novorossiysk—the so‑called Russian “shadow fleet”—prompting concerns and leading to a dramatic surge in Black Sea war‑risk insurance premiums (up to 2.5–3×). (theguardian.com)
- •Ukraine has ramped maritime drone capability—unveiling the Sea Baby sea drone with ~1,500 km range and 2,000 kg payload in October 2025—and continues to threaten vessels linked to Russia’s energy exports with escalatory strikes across the Black Sea. (apnews.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Tanker carrying Russian oil hit by drone in Black Sea near Turkey
1What happened to the Russian oil tanker in the Black Sea?
A marine drone struck a crude oil tanker carrying Russian oil, causing an explosion near the Bosphorus strait.
2Was anyone injured in the tanker drone attack near Turkey?
All 27 crew members aboard the affected vessel were reported safe after the incident.
3Which vessel was involved in the Black Sea incident?
The Sierra Leone-flagged oil tanker Altura, managed by Pergamon Denizcilik and owned by Sea Grace Shipping, was involved.
4Why are drone attacks on vessels in the Black Sea increasing?
Increasing tensions and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war have led to more drone attacks on oil tankers in the Black Sea region.
