A drone attacked an oil tanker heading to Novorossiysk off the coast of Turkey.
Off the coast of the Turkish province of Kastamonu, a drone attacked the oil tanker Elbus, which was heading towards the Russian port of Novorossiysk.
This was reported by the Turkish publication Ortadoğu .
According to journalists, the incident occurred approximately 50 kilometers off the Abana region. The Palau-flagged tanker Elbus was hit. The attack damaged the vessel’s upper structure, but preliminary reports indicate no crew members were injured.
The damaged tanker is being towed to the Turkish port of Inebol, where it will undergo a detailed technical inspection and necessary safety measures. Afterward, the source of the attack and the extent of the damage are planned to be determined.
No official statement regarding the cause of the incident has yet been released. Turkish maritime authorities continue to monitor the situation.
According to Militarnye, the tanker Elbus was heading to the Russian port of Novorossiysk to load oil. Automatic identification system (AIS) data indicates that after the attack, the vessel abruptly changed course and headed toward the Turkish coast.
The tanker Elbus was built in 2005. The vessel is almost 275 meters long, 48 meters wide, and has a deadweight of approximately 160,000 tons.
As a reminder, US President DonaldTrump has voiced the idea of a global redistribution of spheres of influence between the US, China, and Russia , changing the traditional American policy of containment. This entails a softer policy toward Beijing and possible recognition of Russia’s territorial gains in Ukraine.
Incidentally, Russia and China are actively taking advantage of Donald Trump’s desire to conclude quick agreements and are attempting to weaken American alliances in Europe and Asia.
It was previously reported that China had begun building its own “shadow fleet” of gas tankers , which would allow the country to import sanctioned Russian liquefied gas.
Also follow “Pryamy” on Facebook , Twitter , Telegram and Instagram .